Still the Physics Definition

After a semester of exploring the meaning of the word power in the context of the ancient Near East, I still feel that a good general definition of power is the ability to do work over time. While we have explored the meaning of power in the context of leadership, for example Mann’s four types of power, but the word takes more meanings outside of that context. While more specific definitions are useful in specific contexts, they have limits when trying to apply the word to other situations it is used in. Thus I feel the more all-encompassing a definition is, the more powerful (it can get the most understanding across in the least amount of time).

The main definitions of power we worked with in this course were laid out by Michael Mann, who defined political, military, economic, and ideological power. For example, military power was defined as a form of control by force, to drastically summarize. These definitions proved useful in talking about social systems and the ways that people were made to do work, but they can’t be used beyond the context of leadership and control. For example, it would be difficult to categorize the power of food or alcohol over people using Mann’s definitions.

While I don’t mean to argue that specific and contextualized definitions are groundless, I think that to define the word power with one single definition, a very broad one is necessary. And I think that the ability to do work over time is just that. I think one would be hard pressed to find a correct use of the word power that doesn’t describe an ability for something to do work. Hammurabi was powerful because of his ability to move massive armies effectively and establish a powerful code of law in his reign. Gilgamesh was powerful because of his ability to do amazing physical feats (work) that no one else could do in any amount of time. I think the physics definition is the most powerful definition of power.