I was mulling an idea about anti-intellectualism: Knowledge is definitely a form of power. Knowledge empowers. And in a society of unequal power lack of knowledge is often disempowering. In a twisted desire to gain agency it's easy to displace anger at inequality itself onto those with knowledge.
Hmmm. Ill have to think on that a little bit 🤔. I think knowledge + opportunity/circumstance = a form of power. I dont think knowledge *alone* is power.
I disagree. For example, knowledge of your rights helps protect you from state violence. Obviously, far from perfect, but having the knowledge gives some power balance. Circumstance/opportunity definitely is a major factor in access to power as well.
correct about how anti-intellectualism grows. I feel like I'm missing something. There's also a tinge of a desire to be seen as knowledgeable without having to do the work of becoming knowledgeable.
Let me rephrase, knowledge is a form of something like a soft power. It can increase social status, help you navigate different circumstances, give you an advantage that is otherwise unavailable. It can be hoarded like a resource or commodity.
The power in knowledge comes from application, and its ability to be applied is context sensitive. i.e. knowledge of how to program a computer means absolutely nothing in a hunter-gatherer tribe. It counts as *knowledge* but it isnt "power" in that context.
Yes, knowledge having power is context dependent but isn't that true of just about anything? A monarch can have immense power in certain contexts, but when they get their head chopped off they're disempowered. I feel like all power is context dependent.
Your example isnt "changed context of a given power" though because a dead person has no power under *any* context. A monarch who is alive has power over her subjects in *every* context so long as she is still ruler. She's not a monarch anymore by definition if she is dead.
It doesnt because if the state is willing to use violence as its primary means to control its citizens there is no reason to believe the legal system will help you given the legal system is a *part* of the state. It fact "rights" are defined by the state. The circumstance matters.
Whether "knowledge of your rights" is power depends entirely on the kind of state you live in. I think its definitely power in the state I live in but it is far from perfect or absolute.
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I will say though that I'm not sure that I'm