Granted Power vs. Inherent Power

[VaticanAssassin]

It was a very brief subject in a book I recently reread. Not even a page or two but the argument stuck with me and I felt it deserved more.

So which power would you rather possess? Inherent power (Strength of mind, body, etc..) or granted power?

The book argued granted power is limitless. I disagree. And while inherent power certainly is not limitless it is also much harder to take away.

Or better yet. Lets talk about Eyer and Rec....

 

[Recidiva]

Inherent.

Ideally you need both, because without knowing how to handle inherent power you can't utilize granted power.

 

[hashtag45]

Instead of the Eyer/Reci thingy, let's talk about those particular individuals who managed to split the entire forum :

So that some people who would normally tolerate each other('s flaws) in real life, are now at each others' throats? (figuratively speaking, of course)

 

[Paul_Chance]

I definitely come down on the side of granted power.

Inherent power (strength of mind, body, will, etc.) is functionality additive and limited. Alone I can write X lines of code, or lift X weight, or do X number of things.

Granted powerful is exponential. Alone I can bench 200 lbs. With the ability to command (or persuade) other people I can have 200 lbs moved all around, all day, every day.

Alone, I can make an application. With a team I can make an system that will take me to Mars and back.

Also, inherent power is more fragile and subject to sudden loss that granted power. I may be in excellent strength, but I blow a knee out and it's all over - the lion gets me. With a team - not only do other people rush to my defense, but they carry me to safety and care for me when I heal.

Yep, definitely granted power for me.

 

[Recidiva]

I definitely come down on the side of granted power.

Inherent power (strength of mind, body, will, etc.) is functionality additive and limited. Alone I can write X lines of code, or lift X weight, or do X number of things.

Granted powerful is exponential. Alone I can bench 200 lbs. With the ability to command (or persuade) other people I can have 200 lbs moved all around, all day, every day.

Alone, I can make an application. With a team I can make an system that will take me to Mars and back.

Also, inherent power is more fragile and subject to sudden loss that granted power. I may be in excellent strength, but I blow a knee out and it's all over - the lion gets me. With a team - not only do other people rush to my defense, but they carry me to safety and care for me when I heal.

Yep, definitely granted power for me.

I'd give the example of people winning the lottery. That's a lot of power. Most blow through it and end up in debt.

 

[Paul_Chance]

I'd give the example of people winning the lottery. That's a lot of power. Most blow through it and end up in debt.

Good example - win the lottery and get millions (inherent power at the far end of the curve) or win the bid to run the lottery and make millions for years (granted power) by getting 10 cents of every ticket sold, anywhere, all the time.

 

[Recidiva]

Good example - win the lottery and get millions (inherent power at the far end of the curve) or win the bid to run the lottery and make millions for years (granted power) by getting 10 cents of every ticket sold, anywhere, all the time.

Excellent examples, but I think backward. Winning the lottery is granted power. Running the lottery is inherent power.

So now we define parameters. Granted power can give inherent power, especially in this case. Nobody's going to take the lottery money away.

If someone is voted into office, they have potential inherent power and granted power, but both could be taken away if the job is done badly.

 

[Palamino19]

Granted power usually involves entanglements with others that abdicate power in other ways, moreso than inherent power.

For example, powerful political leaders must speak and act in ways that they wouldn't normally have to, but to maintain their authority, they must do so. This is a rather fundamental and profound loss of power in regards to self identity.

Inherent power must also be maintained through practice, and so time must be spent. For example, working out. However, one can maintain some developed skill for a long time without active use.

I prefer inherent power, but view power as a problematic issue, because, to have it in one sphere, one must give it up in others.

 

[Paul_Chance]

In thinking about it, both winning the lottery and running the lottery are granted power, in that the source of the power comes from outside of the individual - the first from chance, the second from whatever authority controls the power to award the bid.

There is always some exercise of inherent power in attaining granted power (except in cases of inheritance). As noted, there is also always some sort of trade-off in obtaining power - for inherent power it is studying, practicing, training, learning, using - all paid for in time (the most precious currency we have). For granted power it is the application of inherent power to attainment of the grant.
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Which of course brings us straight into classic economic theory of man as a utility maximizing creature. If one values personal freedom and independence, then one would focus on building inherent power - valuing the utility of freedom and independence over the utility of constrained behavior in exchange for maximizing interdependence.

The only recommendation I would have would be - determine first what it is you value, then determine the most efficient and effective route to get there. Then, assemble or obtain the power to get there.

 

[Que Va]

It was a very brief subject in a book I recently reread. Not even a page or two but the argument stuck with me and I felt it deserved more.

So which power would you rather possess? Inherent power (Strength of mind, body, etc..) or granted power?

The book argued granted power is limitless. I disagree. And while inherent power certainly is not limitless it is also much harder to take away.

Or better yet. Lets talk about Eyer and Rec....

Exactly. Anything granted by a grantor can be taken from the grantee.

If, for the sake of discussion someone or an entity decided in the beneficent wisdom to grant me some power, I would bite the hand that fed me. I would deny their authority to do so, and assert that the power is mine for the taking.

Maybe.

Unless it was a really lucrative deal, then I'd swallow it, and milk it for all it was worth before biting the hand that fed me.

 

[Liar]

Depends on how much power we're talking about and on what time scale.

Granted power is pretty handy on a granular level. The power to control your day-to-day life, is often granted power. In just the right amount, it equals freedom. For instance, the ability to make desicions at work and not have them questioned or micro managed by a boss or a rigid buerocracy.

Or the adult's granted power to have a bucket of chocolate chip ice cream for dinner because I want to and nobody can stop me, dammit.

Take it too far however, and it becomes responsibility.