Power Essay, Research Paper

Does the world belong to the strong?

As they are used in this sentence, belong and strong are two multifaceted words. They can each indicate different definitions, changing the meaning of the question.

To belong to means to be owned by. Do the strong own the world? No. The strong cannot own the world simply because (without trying to preach Buddhism) nobody can ever own anything. Ownership requires ultimate autocracy without exception. Happenstance and the free will of people therefore make ownership of anything (or anybody) meaningless.

To belong to also means to be under the authority of. Do the strong have authority over the world? Certainly. Authority is a genuine form of power that is exerted from one person upon another. In both advanced civilization and basic animal society, the strong govern the weak by demonstrating superiority. On a small order, the parent demonstrates his authority with his knowledge, age and responsibility.

Who is strong? The definition is subject to circumstance. In the situation of a classroom, a teacher may have authority by being likeable, experienced, imposing (in personality or in appearance) or intelligent. In a pack of wolves the alpha male holds his status by being the fastest, the strongest, and the best fighter.

However, the teacher does not own his pupils and the alpha male does not own his pack.