Power refers to the capacity or ability to carry out certain action. Addition to this, it also been used to have the conditions to do so, among which are the material availability, time or physical place. If I polled 100 people and asked them what is their definition of the word ‘power’, they would all have different answers. However, for the development of the essay, we would consider or understand the term ‘power’ as a word with multiple or different meanings depending on the context that is used or developed. In other words, power can be defined as the capacity or capability of doing something else making his or her own dominance or control that prevails over the other.
The term ‘power’ comes from the Latin word ‘posere’ which means force, capacity, energy or domain. The word ‘power’ can also refer to the ability to do something or be something and the capacity to exercise a dominating control over one or several individuals. Also, power can be defined as the ability to influence some or a particular person.
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Various social sciences have studied the characteristics of power in the organization of societies, with one of those who contributed to its idea being the eminent pioneer Max Weber in the 19th century. According to Max Weber, power is the imposition of the own will within a social relationship and even with any possible resistance. He realized that power is related or connected to the idea of domination for some specific purpose. On the other hand, power can be differentiated by their types, such as absolute power, limited, factual, spiritual, acquisitive and economic power.
One example of power is the power that the government exercises or control its citizen or society. This power is derived or comes from the three central powers of the state, known as the executive, the legislative and the judicial. The government expands its power through the decentralized powers such as local governments.
In conclusion, there are many meanings to define the word ‘power’. The most used or familiar meaning to the definition of power is that it is force, energy, ability to perform such things. However, depending on the context you are, whom you are, where you from, and what your viewpoints are, it is going to be your own definition of power, similar to what Max Weber realized or understood. Also, power can be express in different types, and it doesn’t always mean for being able to do anything or everything you want. Lastly, we must remember that great power comes with great responsibility, if you can do such things, then you make sure that you perform or do it for the betterment of all people.
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