power corrupts?

Question

Do you believe that's true, that power corrupts?
arrogance of power?
I need to write a four min. speech, and I have no idea how to start it...WHat should I include? How do I make this speech strong enough for my Academic Decathlon competition..
Thanks for your time.

Answer 1

I believe that power normally corrupts (lol, you know you can rarely say "always" or "never" because there are always those exceptions).

I think it is the craving for power that is what normally corrupts people. They get a little power, they like it, and they know they can use that power to get more.

But there are the exceptions! :O Like some of those religious leaders (like the head hanchos of the religion, like Jesus, Lao Tzu, Buddha). They had lots of followers, but they just preached (Buddha for example). They didn't use it to undermine the government or w/e.

It seems to be compassion and kindess is what can save people from that corruption. As my history teacher told me, when people run for office they say they want to change something. But once they get elected, the change they wanted to make no longer effects them, so they no longer have any desire to change it. But compassion could make you still want to change it for others ;)

Have your teacher help you with writing it. Or :O do it spontanously on the spot! Lol, that is what Krishnamurti did in his "talks"

Answer 2

I do believe "pditty" and her advice will get you off to a good start on the basics of your work there, but...

One thing you ought to consider as well is the *reversal* of that Lord Acton quote.

Corruption can also Empower. This, I think really gets to the meat of the matter. It isn't just that Power gives people more opportunities to *be* Corrupt. It's also that when someone does *something Corrupt*, they are basically violating a moral limit and in the short-term, *doing more* than what a moral person with Power would. This can, in the short-term, selfish sense of the word, be seen as Empowering. Not to mention, one of the more long-term consequences of violating moral limits and *getting away with it* is that you create confusion and fear within your enemies (or anyone who might be an obstacle really, as such people who *have* moral limits are given pause by your recklessness). A lot of what Machiavelli teaches in _The Prince_ boils down to just this: by being the *first* to "go there" and violate moral limits, one can gain a short-term upper hand--at least until you have earned the hatred of the people for doing so.

But I digress. My point is, "Power corrupts" and "Corruption Empowers" can rightfully be seen as two pieces of a social feedback loop, that really explains a *lot* about how people become *morally bankrupt* and evil courtesy of the *sum total* of the things they do, the violations of moral limits, that they do in the name of short-term expediency and short-term empowerment.

It's something to look into I suppose, if you can find a way to condense it into a four-minute presentation. ^_^

I hope this helps....thanks for your time! ^_^

Answer 3

You can never judge one person by the actions of others. All throughout history there have been those who abuse power. However there are men and women such as, Gandhi who used that power to change millions of lives. Did it corrupt him? Some say he was a womanizer... did power make him that, or did his past experiences and heritage make him that?

We will all do with what we are given in this life differently. Giving someone Power... may corrupt them, but it may also enable them to do a great good.

:o) Be Well and Peacefull.

Answer 4

Use the quote "Absolute power corrupts absolutely." It's by Lord Acton and I would look it up first to get the exact quote. I do believe that and so did the founding fathers of America. They used that same philosophy when creating the checks and balances in the American government, so no one group could usurp the power and then eventually get drunk with power and abuse it. Good luck, hope this helps.

Answer 5

in some cases, power does corrupt. but as always, it depends on the person and his/her will power. i mean, if it's someone who's weak-minded and easily swayed, yes, they'd probably become corrupt. but if you know what you're doing and your feet are planted firmly on the ground, you're in good hands.
and often times it goes like this:
power=pride=arrogance=corruption
but then again, i'm fifteen. so what do i know?

Answer 6

In my opinion power corrupts those who are powerless internally and those who donot deserve it.Because they donot know the responsibilities of their powerful position, so much so, that they use it to their selfish ends and to display it.

Answer 7

well, i think that power comes from the people. see; if people don't like you, then you'll istantly be hated and overthrown. i think power originaly comes from people liking you. without followers; you're nothing. so, if you take greed for more power into your already power, then you're just bound to lose followers. if you don't believe me look at any revolution (french; they had many different leaders during the revolution).

do you like my answer?

Answer 8

no, only power corrupts some, not all.

Answer 9

power IS corruption