What is the antithesis of absolute power?

[tinkerdan]

That's an interesting question because if someone consciously decided on something else over absolute power it would actually become absolute sacrifice in a manor of speaking. Absolute power would be a means to channel those other things mentioned as the antithesis; depending on whether the person with the absolute power could comport themselves well enough.

If they turn that power down then they are sacrificing the chance to do something good with all that power.

Having absolute power doesn't mean you have to exercise it. So the character has to ask themselves what they are afraid they will do that's so horribly wrong; with the absolute power that they don't want it. Or...maybe they already did something horribly wrong with it; so that's why they gave it up and they didn't chose anything over absolute power they just chose not to have it anymore.

Or maybe it's like the Highlander and you could have absolute power, but you have to be the last one standing. Oh well no thanks I don't want to be a glorified headsman, I don't want to chop my way to the top.

Does absolute power really corrupt absolutely? Or is that just one of those phrases people like the sound of.

I guess the only way to really know is to have experienced it yourself.

You probably wouldn't listen if I tried to tell you.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

A very conflicted character this one. He knows how corrupting absolute power can be, in a visceral fashion that haunts him. He knows what it is to be without power. He also knows the pressures of owning the power. And he most certainly isn't motivated by conventional fictional motivations which are, I believe, a million miles from true people's motivations.

 

[tinkerdan]

So he really doesn't give up the power does he? He just tries to make everyone believe he has because he's vowed not to use it. It's like a drug he will never shake it because deep down he remembers what it was like to be powerless.

Time for an intervention.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

No, in my mind (which might change but is unlikely to at this stage) he gives it up completely. No tricks.

 

[Boneman]

No, in my mind (which might change but is unlikely to at this stage) he gives it up completely. No tricks.

Which is great... because he's giving up the burden of responsibility - whether it's to help others for the greater good, or just to help a seed become a better flower. If you have great power and you do things for others, that's wonderful, but in essence you weaken them, because they don't do the things for themselves, you can deprive them of a learning experience, and their own growth. Great reason to walk away from it all, because that decision will empower others to live their own lives...

 

[Wendigo]

Reminds me of the story of Cincinnatus, a Roman aristocrat who was called out of retirement and made dictator of Rome to fight off an invasion. A mere two weeks later, the job was done, so he gave it all up and went back to his farm.

The real story is probably more complicated, but it's still an interesting idea- only holding power to do the job, not for power's sake.

 

[Kylara]

Passion. Absolute Power is a passion for very few. For everyone else it is a means to an ends for their personal passion. However it never works that way. To give up power for your passion would get me. If I had the choice of world/galactic domination or a lovely country estate and a bunch of young horses to bring on, I would choose the horses. Horses need time, patience, love, and calmness. As a world ruler I would have no time for the millions of horses I could own. Most peoples passion requires time. Thats what you trade it for, time to pursue your passion.

 

[AnyaKimlin]

I wrote this one NaNo 2009 . Soc didn't want anything in its place he just wanted not to be that responsible. Anything else was better.

 

[Glitch]

Give it up for the one thing the power can't give you.

 

[krgreen]

A very conflicted character this one. He knows how corrupting absolute power can be, in a visceral fashion that haunts him. He knows what it is to be without power. He also knows the pressures of owning the power. And he most certainly isn't motivated by conventional fictional motivations which are, I believe, a million miles from true people's motivations.

Whatever the motivation for not wanting the power, surely that would continue after losing the power - what's the core reason, the thing that maybe they wanted even before they had power?

Also seconding any strong emotion as a motivation -- be it a logical step or an irrational, split second thing, if it's in keeping with an emotion that is authentic for the character to have, it would work for me.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I wrote this one NaNo 2009 . Soc didn't want anything in its place he just wanted not to be that responsible. Anything else was better.

Probably why I liked him so much...

Thanks, all, it sounds like I'm going the right way with the motivations. This has been helpful in drawing my thinking out.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I assume we are not talking about omnipotence and omniscience? He is not knowing, all wise. He can't just wish a thing to happen and it does happen? it is simply that his magical power is so vast that he has been granted or has manipulated or inherited his way into absolute political power.

On that assumption, that there is room for human error, and that he can't simply exert his magical powers to undo any harm arising from his mistakes (and on the assumption that he isn't vain or selfish enough to view the results of using that power without a qualm) ... absolute power would be a crushing responsibility for anyone who has or who develops a conscience.

Certainly he might wish to use that power to do good, but does having the power assure that he can carry out all his good intentions? If he uses that power to do something that he thinks will be of benefit to millions of people, if he makes a mistake how many of those millions will suffer for it? How many will suffer if he does nothing? Even if he makes the decision that will be right for the most people, how many innocents may suffer as a direct result of his actions? (And figuring out the complexities of all the consequences when he uses his powers could be paralyzing.) How many times could he make the wrong decisions, or sacrifice too many making the "right" decisions before the responsibility becomes unbearable?

This is why I think peace of mind would ultimately be impossible for anyone who tries to use that power conscientiously. And that the responsibilities involved would keep him so busy that he would have no personal freedom. He would become a prisoner of his own power.

And just because he has that power, does he have the right to exercise it? Does his power rob others of self-determination? Supposing that he doesn't rob others of free will (which would be a horror in itself) but simply controls all the governments, no matter how benevolent his rule, would not there be those who rebel because they believe they could do a better job of ruling themselves? Particularly those who have suffered from his mistakes in the past? To keep his power he will have to crush those rebellions, and again innocents may suffer. How long can he do this before it becomes impossible to live with the burden of what he has done and what he knows he must do in the future in order to retain all his power? How long before he realizes that the cost to others is simply too high?

Assuming the magician was not already mad or corrupt, the only way to survive would be to convince himself of his own infallibility and develop contempt for anyone who opposes him. This could be such a change that if he catches himself at it, he might fear that he is losing his identity, that the individual that he was is dying bit by bit.

So it is possible that he might give up that power as a matter of self-preservation.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Teresa, you are amazing. That throws up so much for me to think about it. I think this person would bear anything he had to but would not let it harm those he loves. And my ending is at odds at this - in giving it up he risks what you describe in one he loves. Which he absolutely would not do.

So, big, deepening changes needed. Lots of editing. Much stronger. Muchly thanks.

 

[JoanDrake]

I think there is no way you could give up absolute political power even if you wanted to, not if you wanted to survive anyway. Someone would seek you out and kill you, if only to steal some of your reputation and power by so doing. He might, or might not achieve his end by doing this but there would nearly certainly be many who would try and you, in giving up power, would have lost most of your defense.