Individuals need common or collective power to keep them in awe and to direct their action to the common benefit. To erect that one common power, then we have to give all our strengths to one man or an assembly and reduce all our wills to one will which is spearheaded by the man or assembly which we collectively erect to be our representative in bringing our interest easily than when we act as individual. The erection of such a common power will have unlimited right and can access privileges that an individual or a group of non-united individual cannot acquire. It therefore helps to have a common power either through an individual or an assembly that represent the will of the majority and is devoted in achieving these will.
Thomas Hobbes is right in his claim that we need a collective common power that helps us direct our actions to a common benefit. As portrayed by Dr. King and Alexis, the collective power is used to achieve a collective interest such as justice, peace, business success, political power and the rule of law. The stand correlates with Thomas’ stand in the establishment of a common power that has the will and interest of the people at heart.
It seems reasonable to suppose that the common power rested upon an individual or an assembly will work for the benefit of the whole population that gives such power to the individual or the assembly. If the given power is aimed at achieving the will of the people rather than the individual or the assembly’s, desire, then they will be fulfilling the mandate in which they were erected and the power vested upon them. Achieving the collective will through the common power rested on them as argued by Thomas.
The formation of a common power reduces instances of conflict, quarrel and war. The principle causes of quarrel that is, competition, difference and glory. Competition makes man invaded each other for gain. It uses violence to make themselves masters in order to oppress the weak. Diffidence makes man invade for safety. It seeks to defend those individual loves such as their children, wives and cattle. Lastly, glory make individual invade for trifle as a word, a smile or different opinion (Thomas, p. 185). These conflicts can be subdued through the creation of a single power that is rested in an individual or an assembly to present the public and overcome the individual interests but promote collective will as Thomas argues.
Common power provides security, for if a great multitude acts upon its own judgment and particular appetite, they can expect neither defense nor protection against a common enemy. This makes them vulnerable to even a small organized group that agree together and make war against a common enemy. Common power provides security like the ants or bees. Men desire for there to be peace all the time that they be governed and directed by one judgment. The ants and the bees lives sociably one with another yet they the follow one direction than their particular judgments and appetites in order to achieve a common benefit (Hobbes p. 225). The same can be applied to man by creating or erecting such a common power that directs the public in realizing its goals through living to achieve the will of the people. This will be the only appropriate way to, creating a common power, defend themselves from the invasion of foreigners and injuries of each other and thereby secure them in such sort.
Peace comes as a result of a common will that brings people with a common interest together. From the law of nature that commands man to endeavor peace, lies the rule of association which implies the importance of the common power. This is the power that is derived when men come together when trying to achieve universal peace. The success of this mission does not rest on an individual mission but a collective power where each man stands on the side of the other and fights a common enemy in order to achieve their common interest- universal peace. Reasonably, a man who seeks his own will does not deserve the help from others but if they combined their power to fight for a common interest then, each deserve the protection of the other. A common power guarantees success and the achievement of collective interest since the individual forces are combined into one huge and great force to reckon with.
Political power is derived from a common association that is established by a common will. Civil associations facilitate political associations; therefore, in countries where civil associations are prohibited, political associations are rare. Political associations strengthen and improve associations for civil purposes (Alexis, p. 206). It creates a common power that men utilize to realize their political will and needs. Political association not only gives birth to a number of associations but also creates associations of great extent. However, political associations are meant for greater interest because they take a national outlook and have the interest of a large number. In so doing, they are able to achieve their will collectively other than it would have been when taking individual initiative.
Common will, as advocated by Thomas is embraced by business enterprises. Trading and manufacturing companies embark on civil partnerships without risking a portion of their possession. Men will always tend to form some form of association when they fear the risk of not achieving success. This gives them the security by forming such associations that protect them from loss. It is the creation of such common power through the association that makes men to follow their will collectively without fear as there is secured (Alexis, p. 207). The common power is therefore not only necessary in the political arena but also in the business world where business men want the security derived from such association. This does not only provide that security per say but also provides a common voice in various matters that concern the members of the group.
As advocated by Thomas Hobbes, common power is the vehicle of achieving justice and rule of law as demonstrated by Dr. King. Martin Luther writes in the Letter from Birmingham Jail, collective power can be used to fight various vices that are oppressive in the society. These are things such as racism which are unjust to humanity. The common power can therefore be created to fight against such evils through demonstration that are justified in the demonstrators’ context. Luther had clear conscience when leading and calling for the demonstration which ended him in the Birmingham jail. Though people call it unwise and untimely, it was the right opportunity and time to strike (Luther, p. 406). The oppression of the Negros offered enough reason for the call of a racial association seeking justice and the universal recognition by the law of the land. Understanding the condition that fostered the demonstration will be the only way in understanding the actions of Luther and his friends. Though it may seem destructive, the common power in this demonstration has a reason of realizing a common interest of all the demonstrators. Luther says that, “I am sure that none of you would want to rest content with the superficial kind of social analysis that deals merely with effects and does not grapple with underlying causes”.
Luther argues that the causes of the demonstration are the justifying factors that call for such a collective power. He continues to argue that when the law is unjust and oppresses a portion of the public, like the Negros were oppressed by the white, such common will to end such oppression creates the power necessary to advocate for the creation of common power (Luther, p. 407). Luther argues that non-violent demonstration fosters tension that the community which had refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue. Though looks as negative common power from the oppressors side, it is a positive power from the oppressed point of view. It is the creation of the common power that seeks the liberation of the people from slavery and oppression.
Common power does not always result to positive power; at times, the power may be meant to be negative. Groups of people can come together and rest power to an individual or assembly with the sole purpose of oppressing and practicing injustice to and individual or group. For example, in Apology, Plato shows how common power such as that rested on the Athenian jury can be used against an individual. Despite there not being enough proof that indeed Socrates was teaching against the Athenian gods or corrupting the Athenian youth, the jury found him guilty of the accusations as charged and he was sentenced to execution as required by law (Plato, p. 55).
The powers used by the United States of America government against the Negros in the era of Luther were not only oppressive but inhuman. Luther tells of the self-purification workshops the attended in order to a certain that they were indeed ready to receive the harsh treatment from the government (Luther, p. 407). Evidently, martin is jailed as a result of the non-violent demonstrations. This shows how the government uses its power to oppress the weak and voiceless in the society.
The common power rested upon an individual or an assembly will work for the benefit of the whole population that gives such power to the individual or the assembly. The achievement of many human interests, such as victory in war, peace, political influence and also in business, call for the people with similar interest to combine their forces and erect an individual or group of individuals to advocate for their will.
Works Cited
Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan: Or, the Matter, Forme and Power of a Commonwealth, Ecclesiastical and Civil. New York: Collier Books, 1962. Print.
King, Martin L. Letter from Birmingham City Jail. Philadelphia: American Friends Service Committee, 1963. Print.
Plato, Benjamin Jowett, J. Harward, and Plato. The Dialogues of Plato. Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica, 1952. Print.
Tocqueville, Alexis, and Richard D. Heffner. Democracy in America. New York, N.Y: Signet Classic, 2001. Print.
