Wielding Power in Harmony With Nature

[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 quote ancient Stoic philosopher Epictetus who stated, “Every great power is dangerous for the beginner. You must therefore wield them as you are able, but in harmony with nature” (page 217). There are three points worth elucidating in regard to this quote.

First, regarding “power,” I stated in a blogpost entitled Power:

In simple terms, power is defined as ability to act or produce an effect. As an example, using a modus ponens syllogism (if p, then q; p; therefore, q), if you acquire lots of money[p], then you’ll have the power to purchase influence [q]. […]

Whereas control is direct power or authority over something or someone, influence is the power to change or affect something or someone indirectly. Thus, control involves a direct exertion of command, and influence works through indirect persuasion and shaping of opinions or behavior.

Notably, one source states that “power is the ability to influence or direct the actions, beliefs, or conduct of actors. Power does not exclusively refer to the threat or use of force (coercion) by one actor against another, but may also be exerted through diffuse means (such as institutions).”

When referencing “great power,” Epictetus could’ve been referring to individual and collective control or influence. As an example, I have control of only myself—and to a limited degree. Thus, what I’m currently doing is attempting to influence you by use of persuasion in this post.

That’s power on an individual level. Alternatively, for those who choose to pretend that the global response to the COVID-19 fiasco didn’t actually occur—as there appear to be some people who delude themselves in this way—I invite you to think about one factor in particular.

Collective power was exercised when the prescribed pharmacological therapeutic intervention manifested as shots which were manufactured by a number of pharmaceutical companies that were given immunity from lawsuits regarding iatrogenic effects of the remedies.

I never received any of the COVID-19 interventions, because it was foolish to subscribe to the collective power-driven narrative at the time. Thus, using a basic modus ponens syllogism, I was able to apply logic and reason to what was being stated by collective power entities.

If those who received shots benefited from immunity regarding contraction and transmission of the virus (p), then it made no sense for those of us who didn’t receive the shots to be maligned, because jabs received by others supposedly protected people from COVID-19 anyway (q).

If you received a jab—and thereafter couldn’t catch or spread the virus—then how could it have been that my refusal to receive the pharmacological therapeutic intervention would’ve had any impact on you? After all, the jabs were marketed as “safe and effective.” Or have you forgotten?

What I caught wouldn’t have made you sick! So it was irrational (not in accordance with both logic and reason) for collective power centers to require everyone to receive the shots. This satisfies Epictetus’s claim of “every great power” being “dangerous for the beginner.”

Now, I’ll address a second point. Epictetus stated of powers, “You must therefore wield them as you are able.” In REBT, this use of a “must” statement is viewed as a flexible form of recommendation or preference. As such, these belief-driven advisements aren’t self-disturbing.

For instance, I exercised flexible self-control during the dark days of COVID-19 when collective power structures rigidly expressed demandingness of both absolutistic and conditional varieties. Specifically, I told myself that I recommendatorily and preferably shouldn’t have gotten the jab.

As I can control only myself, I didn’t allow others to wield power over me—thus forfeiting what little power I had in the first place. Besides, prescriptions promoted by collective power enclaves conflicted with immunity that was natural (being in accordance with or determined by nature).

This brings me to my final point concerning Epictetus’s quote. The ancient philosopher made an appeal to power in “harmony with nature”—the external world in its entirety. As addressed in my post Logos and Natural Order, I maintain that there is such a thing as objective reality.

For those people who failed to use rational thinking when collective power entities demanded pharmacological therapeutic intervention, the downstream and knock-on effects of having taken novel shots may not yet be fully realized. Too bad, individuals can’t sue in that case!

Moving forward, perhaps people will be more cautions of power structures which behave as though they are deified entities which wield power in disaccord regarding harmony with nature. In short, government structures aren’t gods! Thus, a little critical thinking can go a long way.

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

References:

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