ETHIEK EN REVOLUTIE

Abstract

SUMMARY As the author of this article hopes to publish a fuller treatment of problems concerning ethics and revolution, the statements of this article about power, authority and violence offer only one of the major topics, eventually to be discussed in a wider scope. Underlying all five theses is the assumption that power—taken as influence which determines people's exercise of freedom always equates authority and a certain amount of force or potential violence. Thesis I discusses how ethical man, while basically opposing all real violence, can never escape structures of power, authority and force. Violence as an abuse of power may be overcome only by confining it. Thesis II brings in the sources of violence. The main source is seen in forms of monopolizing power and in depersonalizing ways of the use of authority; such as bureaucratic, militaristic, clericalistic authoritarianism. Thus, those in power frustrate themselves from the benefit of authentic legitimation through dialogue, and oppres their subor...