Power Corrupts
...eological leaders, as well as elected presidents go crazy in their pursuit of power. Power does corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. In Macbeth, too, we see the corrupting influence of power on a seemingly noble and just man. But why is King Duncan not corrupted by his power? He remains a caring, trusting and humble king throughout his life. Why, then, did Macbeth become so easily corrupted by power? In today’s democratic society, we are made to believe that all are equal, yet we are at the same time encouraged to achieve positions of power, for these positions pay the most and are the most glamorous. After all, in democracy, it is within everybody’s theoretical reach to gain power over everybody else, indeed making society an eternal struggle between individuals and groups for power. For a person to be autonomous, in other words independent, is widely considered to be a good thing. It is a feature of being fully human. When a person exercises power over others, the power holder gains the impression that the others do not control their own behaviour or, they are not autonomous. Hence, they are seen as less worthy. A person who successfully exercises power over others is more likely to believe that these others are less deserving of respect. They thus become good prospects to be exploited. It is said that power corrupts, but actually power corrupts the corruptible. Corruptible people who receive power are corrupted in logarithmically increasing quantities in order to sustain and extend their own power. The French king Louis 14th’s claim “I am the State” is typical to leaders then and now. Throughout history, the wars between countries and states are in the majority of cases not started by the people of the country, ...