In the old paradigm, power was often incorrectly considered the cause of history.
Summary:
Tolstoy points out that a common error in modern histories is the idea that power itself causes historical events to happen.
The closely relates to the idea that power is granted to rulers by the will of the people.
According to Tolstoy, power is a phenomenon of history rather than a cause.
Moreover, Tolstoy did not believe that individuals become leaders because power is transferred to them.
quote from the chapter:
What causes historical events? Power. What is power? Power is the collective will of the people transferred to one person. Under what condition is the will of the people delegated to one person? On condition that that person expresses the will of the whole people. That is, power is power: in other words, power is a word the meaning of which we do not understand.
If the realm of human knowledge were confined to abstract reasoning, then having subjected to criticism the explanation of “power” that juridical science gives us, humanity would conclude that power is merely a word and has no real existence. But to understand phenomena man has, besides abstract reasoning, experience by which he verifies his reflections. And experience tells us that power is not merely a word but an actually existing phenomenon.
Not to speak of the fact that no description of the collective activity of men can do without the conception of power, the existence of power is proved both by history and by observing contemporary events.
Second Epilogue, key concept note 11
In the old paradigm, power was often incorrectly considered the cause of history.
Summary:
Tolstoy points out that a common error in modern histories is the idea that power itself causes historical events to happen.
The closely relates to the idea that power is granted to rulers by the will of the people.
According to Tolstoy, power is a phenomenon of history rather than a cause.
Moreover, Tolstoy did not believe that individuals become leaders because power is transferred to them.
quote from the chapter:
What causes historical events? Power. What is power? Power is the collective will of the people transferred to one person. Under what condition is the will of the people delegated to one person? On condition that that person expresses the will of the whole people. That is, power is power: in other words, power is a word the meaning of which we do not understand.
If the realm of human knowledge were confined to abstract reasoning, then having subjected to criticism the explanation of “power” that juridical science gives us, humanity would conclude that power is merely a word and has no real existence. But to understand phenomena man has, besides abstract reasoning, experience by which he verifies his reflections. And experience tells us that power is not merely a word but an actually existing phenomenon.
Not to speak of the fact that no description of the collective activity of men can do without the conception of power, the existence of power is proved both by history and by observing contemporary events.
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