Power through Knowledge or Knowledge through Power

Rickie wrote: The only power you have is knowledge of yourself,

What about influence over others?

Senan wrote: Power can facilitate or control the dissemination of knowledge. Knowledge can lead to positions of power or topple those in power. It is how knowledge and power are used that is the deciding factor.

Rickie wrote: The only power you have is knowledge of yourself,

Manu wrote: What about influence over others?

Taking these three quotes together, I am reminded of a type of hero - the prophet - that speaks truth to power. They critique the power status-quo with a kind of knowledge no-one else can have. They speak for themselves - from their own personal experiences. This can be a massive force for leadership amongst those who feel the same, but have previously been voiceless; I mean, they usually end up dead or in prison... (Ghandi, Martin Luther KIng, Mandela; and living Juan Manuel Santos, Malala Yousafzai) They halt or interrupt the dissemination of "knowledge", e.g. Gay people are sinful, their acts are immoral, so legal sanctions against them are justified; with KNOWLEDGE e.g. we should legalise of sex between consenting adults as it's a driver of suicide (Harvey Milk). It's never quoting from the current power's knowledge base; but bringing something new, from themselves, that shakes that basis of power.

.. I just realised a MASSIVE writing error there... Harvey Milk thought we should legalise sex between consenting adults (not just decriminalise it) as the illegal status of sex between consenting adults was a driver of suicide...

... So I stick by power through knowledge. I think the powerful can only try to control knowledge.

I would always think power through knowledge made more sense tome. Don't you have to know what you are doing before you implement something.

Don't you have to be able to what you're doing before you can acquire knowledge? Do a google search, apply for a training course, get a promotion etc

Can you have knowledge without power and power without knowledge? If you can't have one without the other then they must arise together. In answer to the original question I identify with both.

Arisaig wrote: I'm not exactly sure how knowledge through power is possible. Can you give an example of that?

Moderators and Councillors here know far more about the membership than the membership knows about what the mods and Councillors do.

Manu wrote:

Rickie wrote: The only power you have is knowledge of yourself,

What about influence over others?

If you knowledge is a good example for others it will influence others. The source of the knowledge and power come from within.

Some people believe force is power but force is external and usually temporary, knowledge is forever.

I've often said this is what sets me firmly as a Ravenclaw rather than a Slytherin; the latter might use knowledge to gain power, but I've always sought power to gain more knowledge. YMMV.

Rickie wrote: knowledge is forever.

Until you forget it

Akkarin wrote:

Rickie wrote: knowledge is forever.

Until you forget it

While I do believe the power and potential of the mind is unlimited the brain does, sadly, have a shelf life.

This is one of those great open-ended questions that allows for all kinds of creative answers. It allows for innumerable interpretations, and probably expresses more about the author than anything all-encompassing or verifiable regarding the question.

So I view this question as a way to get to know my fellow Temple mates through their responses.

Taking that a step further, some folks respond with a great deal of context-setting. They define parameters for what they mean when they use a term so they aren't talking past anyone else's different, but valid definition for the same word. That's helpful to a reader because it provides context for that person's point of view. Sometimes posters argue past one another because they're using the same word...with drastically different meanings. We usually get beyond these differences fairly quickly, though it is the times we don't that most of us recall.

I would like to point out that I also try to note how people answered, not just what they answered, as a way to understand them better. I'm going to use a post by Kyrin to illustrate a point because I think it's a great post:

Kyrin Wyldstar wrote: Neither one.

How about peace through knowledge.

I interpret this as Kyrin offering us a different lens for the question. I don't think he's saying, "You're wrong - here's the right answer, chump!", but more a thoughtful re-framing of what we thought the initial question is actually about. At the same time, he doesn't dive into a lengthy explanation of his perspective...he offers the lens and walks away, which is a deliberate decision on his part. He doesn't want to constrain us into an answer, only wanting to ask a different question and giving free rein to answer it ourselves. That says something about Kyrin as a person, just like this stilted post I'm writing says something about me. You definitely need responses like his to offer greater perspective and break phenomenons like group-think and feedback loops. (Thanks for the post, Kyrin, and sorry if I butchered any of your intent)

So I ask this...think about how you felt reading others' responses. You read the question, maybe thought up a quick response in your head, and started reading down the other responses. How did you feel reading them? Validated in some cases? Appreciative in others? Did you roll your eyes a bit here and there? Aggravated when you find a contradictory response? Why do you think you felt the way you did? Does that say anything about your receptiveness to new ideas, understanding, growth, and connecting with others?

I know I set down roots here because of the people I've met and connected with along the way. When someone asks for my opinion on something, I entertain it, in part, as an inquiry about ME. Especially very open-ended questions. That's flattering in a way, and when I find responses that don't jive with mine I see them as someone offering to help me grow and to express themselves as a unique person. I mean I guess sometimes people can just be jerks, but feeding into that usually doesn't end so well.

Anyway, before this gets too long I'll go ahead and post my thoughts:

If someone held a gun to my head and said, "Choose," I'd pick Power Through Knowledge. Every response makes sense in a certain context, but my default setting is that knowledge frees us to make informed decisions which can then influence people, things, and ideas. I don't see knowledge as the only requirement for power, but is more the buy-in to play in the game. If you're chained by ignorance, it's very difficult to have a conversation from a position of power.

I like all the input here, but if I have to be honest, I really do not understand the original question

Is it some Star Wars EU reference I'm missing?