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What is Power?
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Description
What is Power? is a pervasive phenomenon, yet there is little consensus on what it is and how it should be understood. In this book, the cultural theorist Byung-Chul Han develops a fresh and original perspective on the nature of power, shedding new light on this key feature of social and political life.
Power is commonly defined as a causal relation: an individual’s power is the cause that produces a change of behaviour in someone else against the latter’s will. Han rejects this view, arguing that power is better understood as a mediation between ego and alter which creates a complex array of reciprocal interdependencies. Power can also be exercised not only against the other but also within and through the other, and this involves a much higher degree of mediation.
This perspective enables us to see that power and freedom are not opposed to one another but are manifestations of the same power, differing only in the degree of mediation.
This highly original account of power will be of great interest to students and scholars of philosophy and of social, political and cultural theory, as well as to anyone seeking to understand the many ways in which power shapes our lives today.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Reviews of What is Power? by Byung-Chul Han commend the author for his intellectual independence and clear argumentation, likening him to a modern philosophical master. Han is praised for offering a fresh perspective on human interaction and power dynamics, setting him apart from other contemporary thinkers. Critics recognise Han as an insightful and important philosopher, noting the significance of his work and the depth of his analysis on power.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781509516100
Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 05 October 2018
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Polity Press
Audience: Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 15.0mm
Width: 140.0mm
Height: 208.0mm
Weight: 204g
Pages: 120
About the Author
Byung-Chul Han is a Korean-born Professor of Philosophy and Cultural Studies who teaches at the University of the Arts (UdK) in Berlin. He is the author of more than 20 books including The Transparency Society and The Burnout Society.
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