Essay
The Phenomenology of Politicking
The Essence of Politics is Not Direct
To begin, a few axioms taken from other works of philosophy and political thought:
(1) “The life of man upon earth is warfare.” (Job 7:1)
(2) “A man, without force, is without the essential dignity of humanity.” (My Bondage and My Freedom, Frederick Douglass)
(3) “Timidity is the root of prudence in the majority of men.” (On War, Carl Von Clausewitz)
(4) “No major proposal required for war can be worked out in ignorance of political factors.” (On War, Carl Von Clausewitz)
(5) “Politics is the art of promoting and protecting your own interests.” (The 33 Strategies of War, Robert Greene)
In corollary, we take from these axioms a few basic definitions:
(1) Man: A word archaically used –with normality up until at least the mid-20th century — as a synonym for ‘humanity,’ the plural for the type of being capable of political force.
(2) Life: The condition in which man exists upon earth.
(3) Force: The essential dignity of humanity; the capacity to effect changes and pursue interests. The ability to enhance one’s life.
(4) Politics: The art of…
