I was familiar with the dynamic of social power but didn't know it had a "name."
New to my understanding was the emphasis on empathy in the socially powerful.
I have a feeling you are about to get to this, I am thinking about the danger of stifling new ideas. Past experience is often not a good reason to not try something. And new folks develop agency when they are seriously heard, despite their lack of experience in the group.
Really interesting post. I've subscribed so I can follow the other chapter drafts as they come out. Good luck with the book - I look forward to seeing it!
On the need to feel noticed, I often feel this drives a lot of the most destructive sides of political discourse. We so often use political statements to express our identity, but that often makes people feel that anyone who disagrees with them is implicitly ignoring their identity, their value as a person. They feel diminished instead of disagreed with. So it turns into a zero sum fight for status using policy ideas as placeholders of self. This is bound to fail. So everyone loses.
I'd love to know if you've any thoughts about that. Or ideas on how to approach political discussions more honestly.
Looks like it will be a great book! Even so I wonder whether, when you write "power," you might actually mean "capital" in a Marxist sense. Despite your etymological reference -- which is quite accurate -- I find the word "power" to be too ambiguous.
Thank you, Starhawk!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Considering the political mess we're dealing with, due to the D.C. boys, this message is great reminder of what is really important for us as individuals. Again, many thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jean
I love love love this chapter!
I was familiar with the dynamic of social power but didn't know it had a "name."
New to my understanding was the emphasis on empathy in the socially powerful.
I have a feeling you are about to get to this, I am thinking about the danger of stifling new ideas. Past experience is often not a good reason to not try something. And new folks develop agency when they are seriously heard, despite their lack of experience in the group.
Really interesting post. I've subscribed so I can follow the other chapter drafts as they come out. Good luck with the book - I look forward to seeing it!
On the need to feel noticed, I often feel this drives a lot of the most destructive sides of political discourse. We so often use political statements to express our identity, but that often makes people feel that anyone who disagrees with them is implicitly ignoring their identity, their value as a person. They feel diminished instead of disagreed with. So it turns into a zero sum fight for status using policy ideas as placeholders of self. This is bound to fail. So everyone loses.
I'd love to know if you've any thoughts about that. Or ideas on how to approach political discussions more honestly.
Looks like it will be a great book! Even so I wonder whether, when you write "power," you might actually mean "capital" in a Marxist sense. Despite your etymological reference -- which is quite accurate -- I find the word "power" to be too ambiguous.
One of the reasons I love "The Fifth Sacred Thing" is because it holds wisdom like this!
Thank you, Starhawk!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Considering the political mess we're dealing with, due to the D.C. boys, this message is great reminder of what is really important for us as individuals. Again, many thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jean