Tyrant or King?

[DISCLAIMER]

As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy, this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman.

The authors explore what type of person one wants to be, a tyrant or king, regarding how an individual behaves toward oneself and others. Beginning this exploration, authors of The Daily Stoic quote ancient Roman and Stoic philosopher Seneca who stated (page 57):

Our soul is sometimes a king, and sometimes a tyrant. A king, by attending to what is honorable, protects the good health of the body in its care, and gives it no base or sordid command. But an uncontrolled, desire-fueled, over-indulged soul is turned from a king into that most feared and detested thing—a tyrant.

A few things come to mind when reading the quote. First, I don’t subscribe to the unfalsifiable notion of a “soul.” Rather, I maintain that “free will” can be substituted for this concept. You’re welcome to disagree. However, I’m uninterested in arguments about one’s imagination.

By “free will,” I’m referencing an individual’s capacity to make one’s own choices and decisions, similar to the concept of agency, unconstrained by external factors or predetermination. Admittedly, “free will” is as conceptual as the existence of a “soul.”

Nevertheless, the idea that human beings have the power to act based on their own desires and intentions, rather than being marionettes of fate or external forces, is something I can observe and measure through scientific methods. No such tools exist for a “soul.”

Second, as I maintain small ‘l’ libertarian principles, I reject the notion of an “honorable” or benevolent king, president, prime minister, politician, or ruler by another title. Personally, I’ve witnessed too many people assume power over other individuals ultimately becoming tyrants.

Because I’m not a bootlicker (one who tries to gain favor with through a servile or obsequious manner), I don’t value viewing myself as a “king,” yet I understand how people who wish to enslave others (literally or figuratively) may desire such a thing. If that’s you, we aren’t alike.

Third, I don’t look at rulers dichotomously as either good or bad, as either noble kings or retched tyrants. Instead, I see people – even those who thirst for power over others – as little more than fallible human beings who are capable of behaving well, poorly, or otherwise. 

Lastly, setting aside my quibbles with the terms “soul” and “king,” I appreciate Seneca’s overall message. Regarding this matter, authors of The Daily Stoic state (page 57):

There is that saying that absolute power corrupts absolutely. At first glance, that’s true. Seneca’s pupil Nero and his litany of crimes and murders is a perfect example.

Another emperor, Domitian, arbitrarily banished all philosophers from Rome (Epictetus was forced to flee as a result). Many of Rome’s emperors were tyrants. Yet, not many years later, Epictetus would become a close friend of another emperor, Hadrian, who would help Marcus Aurelius to the throne, one of the truest examples of a wise philosopher king.

If one can cite a single example to the virtually countless instances of tyrannical rulers, then I argue that Aurelius is the exception that proves the existence of the rule in regard to power over others functioning as a corruptible force. Pertaining to this outlook, one source states:

When a person gains power over other persons–political power to force other persons to do his bidding when they do not believe it right to do so–it seems inevitable that a moral weakness develops in the person who exercises that power. It may take time for this weakness to become visible.

In fact, its full extent is frequently left to the historians to record, but we eventually learn of it. It was Lord Acton, the British historian, who said: “All power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Perhaps you maintain that some rulers of other people are incorruptible, plausibly due to an unblemished “soul.” If this is the case, then a mountain of evidence to the contrary – which includes many examples of deities – will likely not sway your irrational belief.

The peasant mindset is indeed a formidable foe to logical and reasonable (collectively “rational”) thinking. Thus, I wish you all the best while wondering what the boots you lick taste like. In any case, authors of The Daily Stoic conclusively state (page 57):

So it’s not so clear that power always corrupts. In fact, it looks like it comes down, in many ways, to the inner strength and self-awareness of individuals—what they value, what desires they keep in check, whether their understanding of fairness and justice can counteract the temptations of unlimited wealth and deference.

The same is true for you. Both personally and professionally. Tyrant or king? Hero or Nero? Which will you be?

I cede the point that not always does power corrupt. Still, I wonder if authors of The Daily Stoic would agree that often – or even in most cases – power over others tends toward corruption. If not, then I wonder where the authors were during the global tyrannical reaction to COVID-19.

I don’t want power over other people. Alternatively, I choose to focus on the one element in life over which I do have control: myself – though to a limited degree. Thus, I’m merely a fallible human being who doesn’t desire to behave like a king or a tyrant (as if there’s a difference).

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

Photo credit, fair use

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