This resonated a lot with me, but I had a different mental model of this kind of power, which I think may interest you: ‘Real’ Power vs ‘Make Believe’ Power.
The ‘Kings’ power you described relies heavily on a social group collectively believing in your power. If every subject of a King stopped believing in Monarchy at the same time, you would lose your power immediately. If the whole of America were to stop believing in student loan debt, banks would lose a lot of money. And if people stopped believing the the trading value of paper bills, money would lose its value and every rich person would lose a lot of their influence. And if you stop believing that homoeopathic sugar pills will stop your pain, their effect can become a lot lower. This kind of power is defined by the requirement that a critical mass within the social group has to continue believing in it.
What you described as ‘Wizard’ Power will not vanish in the same way, no matter who believes in it. That is real power. No matter who stops believing in your abilities, they still work.
You could also put the kinds of power on a spectrum. Something is closer to real power the less likely it is to vanish at a moments notice. Money is weaker than the possession of physical materials, for instance. “You cant eat money”. Social status is weaker than abilities.
One thing I would like to add in terms of a life-goal or life strategy. Learning how to make vaccines or microchips is cool, but it requires you to stay within some amount of financial stability. Using your metaphor, it is wizardry that requires a wand. If you sell your lithography machine for your next month’s rent (inequality is rising), the usefulness of your skill will vanish as quickly as the kings power during the French revolution.
I therefore find it prudent to start at the bottom assuming no possessions. One would hence start out with basic survival skills. Procuring calories, making necessary tools from trash or natural materials, solid first aid, making crude medicines, constructing shelter. One can then go on to other things like producing electricity and so on. Power becomes more real if it depends on less outside conditionals.
Learn being a human first, then go on to becoming a wizard.
This resonated a lot with me, but I had a different mental model of this kind of power, which I think may interest you: ‘Real’ Power vs ‘Make Believe’ Power.
The ‘Kings’ power you described relies heavily on a social group collectively believing in your power. If every subject of a King stopped believing in Monarchy at the same time, you would lose your power immediately. If the whole of America were to stop believing in student loan debt, banks would lose a lot of money. And if people stopped believing the the trading value of paper bills, money would lose its value and every rich person would lose a lot of their influence. And if you stop believing that homoeopathic sugar pills will stop your pain, their effect can become a lot lower. This kind of power is defined by the requirement that a critical mass within the social group has to continue believing in it.
What you described as ‘Wizard’ Power will not vanish in the same way, no matter who believes in it. That is real power. No matter who stops believing in your abilities, they still work.
You could also put the kinds of power on a spectrum. Something is closer to real power the less likely it is to vanish at a moments notice. Money is weaker than the possession of physical materials, for instance. “You cant eat money”. Social status is weaker than abilities.
One thing I would like to add in terms of a life-goal or life strategy. Learning how to make vaccines or microchips is cool, but it requires you to stay within some amount of financial stability. Using your metaphor, it is wizardry that requires a wand. If you sell your lithography machine for your next month’s rent (inequality is rising), the usefulness of your skill will vanish as quickly as the kings power during the French revolution.
I therefore find it prudent to start at the bottom assuming no possessions. One would hence start out with basic survival skills. Procuring calories, making necessary tools from trash or natural materials, solid first aid, making crude medicines, constructing shelter. One can then go on to other things like producing electricity and so on. Power becomes more real if it depends on less outside conditionals.
Learn being a human first, then go on to becoming a wizard.