Comments on: R-E-S-P-E-C-T http://www.rogerhansen.org/2009/09/r-e-s-p-e-c-t/ Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:02:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Roger Hansen http://www.rogerhansen.org/2009/09/r-e-s-p-e-c-t/#comment-3794 Roger Hansen Sun, 06 Sep 2009 16:29:56 +0000 http://www.rogerhansen.org/?p=501#comment-3794 People frequently define power as the ability to affect others without being affected by them. "Unilateral power" is the label applied to this traditional vision by process philosopher and theologian Bernard Loomer. To be unilateral here means to move one way. The generals and admirals command the captains. The captains direct those below them who ultimately control the seamen and the privates. Orders flow one way--down the ranks. They don't move upwards against the flow of power. Unilateral power is controlling and dominating. By idolizing it, we shape our entire culture. Process-relational philosophers prefer a different model: relational power. According to C. Robert Mesle, relational power includes 3 components: the ability to (1) be actively open to and affected by the world around us; (2) create ourselves out of what we have taken in; and (3) influence those around us by having first been affected by them. There is an important difference between the power to control others while shutting them out of our lives and the power to interact in the lives of other in ways that enrich us all. For me the "relational power" concept seems infinitely preferable to the "unilateral power" model. I think the "relational power" model fits Q3.5 better than Q4. The halfway point between dominance and submission. The equality position. People frequently define power as the ability to affect others without being affected by them. “Unilateral power” is the label applied to this traditional vision by process philosopher and theologian Bernard Loomer. To be unilateral here means to move one way. The generals and admirals command the captains. The captains direct those below them who ultimately control the seamen and the privates. Orders flow one way–down the ranks. They don’t move upwards against the flow of power. Unilateral power is controlling and dominating. By idolizing it, we shape our entire culture.

Process-relational philosophers prefer a different model: relational power. According to C. Robert Mesle, relational power includes 3 components: the ability to (1) be actively open to and affected by the world around us; (2) create ourselves out of what we have taken in; and (3) influence those around us by having first been affected by them. There is an important difference between the power to control others while shutting them out of our lives and the power to interact in the lives of other in ways that enrich us all. For me the “relational power” concept seems infinitely preferable to the “unilateral power” model.

I think the “relational power” model fits Q3.5 better than Q4. The halfway point between dominance and submission. The equality position.

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