Recently, I noticed this question: What is Power? The answer seems obvious but is it really? In the animal world, power is often about physical power or strength. Nevertheless, the big, slow and smart elephants appear powerful (eg, trumpet sounds). Clearly, even a projection of power equals Power.
Compared to humans, many animals have more strength (eg, harder, better, faster, stronger). Nevertheless, humans are more powerful. Hence, the ancient (human) adage that Knowledge = Power (eg, Imam Ali, Francis Bacon, Michel Foucault). It’s ironic, however, that those powerful humans fear the even more powerful viruses, which are non-living entities.
In 2019, Boris Johnson “won a historic 80-seat majority on the back of his pledge to take the U.K. out of the EU” (Axios). Until recently, he survived many scandals and seemed invincible. Then 50+ Cabinet members resigned within 48 hours over yet another scandal. Even Time is more powerful than Power.
A famous quote from The Art of War by the ancient Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu states: “Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.” To quote Sun Tzu: “All warfare is based on deception”. Hence, power is the art of make believe – for all lifeforms (eg, animals, humans, plants).
Ultimately, make believe and/or deception are essential in the survival of all lifeforms (ie, the Why).
Given that Knowledge = Power, knowledge is another survival technique. How about Love?
Indeed, (projected) Love is a third survival technique. In psychology, it’s known as the fawn response and part of the fight, flight, freeze & fawn response to danger. PsychCentral: “The fawn response is “a response to a threat by becoming more appealing to the threat [ ]”. Note: bold marking by me.
Initially, I viewed Love, Knowledge & Power as the 3 dimensions in the 7 Belief systems (ie, 2015 original and 2019 update).
Subsequently, I viewed trialism (ie, Love, Knowledge & Power) as the original structure in life, which was overtaken by dualism (ie, Knowledge = Power). Slowly, monism (ie, Power) is taking over from both.
Today, I realize that Love, Knowledge & Power are also existential and/or evolutionary survival techniques.
No clue, what’s next.
“According to Darwin’s Origin of Species, it is not the most intellectual of the species that survives; it is not the strongest that survives; but the species that survives is the one that is able best to adapt and adjust to the changing environment in which it finds itself.”
A 1963 quote by Leon C. Megginson, Professor of Management and Marketing at Louisiana State University
I Will Survive (1978) by Gloria Gaynor
artist, lyrics, video, Wiki-artist, Wiki-song
[Chorus]
Oh no, not I, I will survive
Oh, as long as I know how to love, I know I’ll stay alive
I’ve got all my life to live, and I’ve got all my love to give
And I’ll survive, I will survive, hey hey
Note: all markings (bold, italic, underlining) by LO unless in quotes or stated otherwise.
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