Michael Pauen: Power and social intelligence

Power and Social Intelligence

Theories of power in political science and sociology fall into two categories: While conflictual theories (Hobbes, Max Weber) hold that power is based on the ability to exert force, consensual theories as they are held, most prominently by Hannah Arendt, assume that power is based on a mutual agreement. Neither theory, though, can explain the mechanism that turns force or consensus, respectively, into power. The talk will show that social intelligence plays a decisive role here, because it helps evading conflicts and fostering cooperation. I will conclude speculating whether right-wing populism can be explained as a lack of social-intelligence.

 

Part of Winter School "Ethics & Neuroscience" 2019