POWER
Introduction to Power Dynamics
Power, in its fundamental operation, involves the capacity to transform nothing into everything, akin to the ancient pursuit of alchemy.
This transformation is not merely material but extends to the creation of deeply ingrained societal beliefs and structures that shape human perception and action. The objective reality, known as the noumena, is inherently unknowable to humanity; perception through the senses warps this reality into the phenomena, which are the observable and processable aspects of the world.
Consequently, reality is not objective but is what is imagined it to be, making life a continuous act of imagination. Understanding the mechanisms by which power manipulates this imagination is crucial to comprehending how the world functions.
The Illusion of Scarcity and the Function of Money
A primary manifestation of how power operates is through the creation and control of money. The conventional understanding of economics, including concepts such as the fractional reserve system, posits that banks lend out a proportion of their deposits.
However, the actual operation of modern banking reveals a different reality: banks create money out of nothing.
This is evidenced by the rapid growth of large Chinese banks, which financed vast infrastructure projects by lending money that did not originate from existing deposits. The historical evolution of this system began with merchants who issued receipts for gold deposits, which then circulated as a form of currency, effectively doubling the perceived amount of gold in circulation.
This system, however, was fraught with risks, such as bank runs if too many people simultaneously demanded their gold, and the unreliability of repayment from powerful borrowers like kings. To mitigate these risks, banks formed cartels, often through intermarriage, leading to the establishment of central banking, which now controls the global financial system.
A cornerstone of power's influence over financial understanding is the propagated belief in scarcity. Despite the capacity of banks to print infinite money, the public is brainwashed into believing that money is scarce.
This artificial scarcity serves a critical purpose: poverty creates the illusion that money is valuable and incentivises people to work hard to obtain it. If poverty did not exist, the motivation to accumulate wealth would diminish.
Similarly, economic crises destroy money and wars destroy wealth, both serving to reinforce the perception of scarcity and maintain the perceived value of money. The world, in this regard, operates as an illusion, making individuals work diligently for an artificially valued resource.
The Constructed Individual and Collective Happiness
Historically, the concept of the individual as an independent entity, separate from family and community, did not exist. Happiness was understood in terms of collective happiness, with personal well-being being intrinsically linked to the welfare and reputation within the community.
Generosity, such as hosting a large feast after acquiring wealth, was prioritised over individual accumulation, as it enhanced one's standing within the collective. The most severe punishment in ancient societies was banishment or exile, rather than death, underscoring the profound importance of communal belonging.
This historical understanding contrasts sharply with modern thought, which champions the idea of individual agency and self-control. Two competing worldviews illustrate this shift:
Physical (Second Worldview):
Sadly, for many contemporary people's understanding, rooted in neuroscience and psychology, humans are merely a collection of memories generated by synapses, influenced by DNA and environment.This view suggests that individuals can control their fate through self-reflection, therapy, and exercises to manage emotions like anger or depression. This science is religion in the modern era.
Metaphysical (First Worldview):
A God fearing people orientate their lives to the laws of God, wary of Sin and the effects of sin. Even within heretical frameworks like Paganism, the concept called eudaimonia, or flourishing, encourages individuals to live life to the best of their ability, seizing the day, as fate is beyond control, and Christians will aschew the fallen world for heavenly reward.
Power preferentially promotes the second worldview due to several advantages:
Powerlessness and Lack of Collective Action:
Crucially, this system renders individuals powerless by teaching them that the source of all problems lies within themselves, rather than with societal structures.This internalisation prevents collective action, as individuals are less likely to identify with others or address systemic issues, often retreating into solitary activities like video games or watching adult content when distressed.Furthermore, it fosters dependence on authority figures, such as psychiatrists, who are presented as solutions for personal unhappiness, rather than simple actions like walking or talking to friends.
The Indoctrination of Schooling and the Nation-State
Incentivised Labour:
It compels individuals to work harder, believing they have complete control over their destiny and must strive for success.
Easier Control:
It simplifies the control of people within the system.
Formal education, despite common belief, does not primarily serve to impart knowledge but rather functions as a mechanism for brainwashing.
Historically, individuals learned through experience, mentorship, and apprenticeship; anyone with the desire could become proficient in a trade by finding a teacher. The modern school system, however, categorises students as either intelligent or unintelligent, channeling them into different life paths.
The origins of mandatory public schooling can be traced to war societies: Sparta, the Aztecs, and Prussia.
These societies, characterised by their dedication to warfare, instituted compulsory education to prepare their populations for military engagement. The fundamental design of school is to take children away from their parents, creating a sense of insecurity that makes them more susceptible to the teacher's authority and, consequently, to brainwashing. Parental presence, conversely, fosters security, making children more willing to question authority.
The ultimate goal of this brainwashing is to implant the concept of the nation-state.
Schools teach language, history, and geography to cultivate the belief that abstract entities like Mother China, the United States, or France are real, living entities demanding love, sacrifice, and obedience. History, as taught, becomes the false memory of a nation-state.
This manufactured belief system ensures obedience to an earthly authority and serves the interests of the nation-state.
The concepts of money, the individual, and the nation-state are not inherent human experiences but rather ideas that must be instilled through indoctrination, originating from the profound historical shift brought about by monotheism.
Conclusion: Power as Alchemy and the Path to Flourishing
Power operates through a form of alchemy, transforming intangible ideas into concrete realities and making people believe in concepts that are, in fact, constructs. It persuades individuals that money is inherently valuable, that individual happiness is paramount, and that the nation-state exists as a living entity.
This system, an accidental outcome of human imagination, has led to widespread misery. However, by understanding and re-engaging with the human imagination, it is possible to create a new system that fosters eudaimonia and the flourishing of the human intellect, moving beyond the current framework of manufactured scarcity and control.