#it also denies moral culpability of the bad actors with power currently

[21st-century-minutiae]

"Absolute power corrupts absolutely" is a truism in the English language and a common trope in early twenty-first century media. The idea is that when an individual acquires enough power, no matter how well intentioned or kind they might have been at the start, selfish drives and loss of perspective will inevitably drive a person to evil results. It exists as a parable and a warning. The libertarian philosophy of United States founding mythology is, in part, based on the belief that it is vital that systems do not permit the accumulation of power in any particular individual, no matter the circumstances.

The concept, and its refutation, is quite old. The greek Philosopher Plato, in his book The Republic discusses a myth known at the time of the Ring of Gyges, in which a poor man (Gyges) acquires a magic ring of invisibility that allows them to act without consequences, and immediately gives up their virtuous life in favor of corrupt indulgence. The point of discussion in the book is less about how 'all humans would do the same,' and more about 'Gyges is worse off despite appearances for giving up his virtues.' But the roots of this kind of tale have existed in the cultural mindset for millennia.

Your characters in the early twenty-first century will know the phrase. Some may subscribe to it. Others may vehemently disagree.

if i had absolute power i would be really chill with it actually. i would never corrupt absolutely. i would keep it real niceys. heart

[pomegranate-cuties]

#I am probably preaching to the choir here but the idea behind the phrase is both miserable and vile#the idea that only weakness allows people to be decent is so dehumanizing#it bakes in the helplessness asserting that if anyone achieved any political or economic power...#then they would immediately propgate the same miserable systems#meaning it is IMPOSSIBLE for life to get better#it also denies moral culpability of the bad actors with power currently#yes it is possible for someone to lose touch in a bad way#but you would hope that it would be possible to be self aware and to avoid the traps of yesmen et al so you aren't part of the problem#“corrupt individuals seek power” is probably a more accurate statement than “power causes corruption”#at the same time it is an interesting epistemological problem#since it is clear that almost every single powerful person clearly believes they aren't corrupt#so their self-awareness is obviously shot...#how would we know we would be different?

(via @21st-century-minutiae)

if i had absolute power i would be really chill with it actually. i would never corrupt absolutely. i would keep it real niceys. heart