← Back to catalogue
Published

power

vr.tr.power-q25107 · thing-q25107

Let an agent handle social and political power by form, source, theory and accountability, presenting theories neutrally.

Thing Registry Cross-cutting context XCT.QLT
Bundle → Layer → Finding → QuestionsClassifiersWhat it isWhy it existsDistinguishing featuresWhat robots and AI may and may not doMoral aspectsOwnersLinks to other meta-modelsIdentity and identifiersDirect propertiesRecognitionCapabilities and actionsHazards and failure modesStandards and interfacesContext of useSources

Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled

4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions

Form Which power.

Kind

Political, economic.

Kind

Form of power.

  1. Which form of power is being discussed? definition
  2. What is its source? definition

Legitimacy

Authority.

Legitimacy

Legitimacy.

  1. Is the power exercised as legitimate authority? boundary
  2. According to which criteria? provenance
Theory Frameworks.

Theorists

Views.

Theorists

Theories.

  1. Which theories of power are relevant here? provenance
  2. How do they differ? definition

Measurement

Indicators.

Measurement

Measuring power.

  1. How can power be measured or compared? measurement
  2. What are the limits of such indices? boundary
Accountability Checks.

Checks

Institutions.

Checks

Checks and balances.

  1. Which institutions check this power? provenance
  2. How effective are they, according to sources? provenance

Abuse

Reporting.

Abuse

Abuse of power.

  1. How can abuse of power be reported? action
  2. Which body investigates? provenance
Senses Disambiguation.

Physics

Watts.

Physics

Physical sense.

  1. Is power as energy per time meant? boundary
  2. Which entry fits? action

Mathematics

Exponent.

Maths

Mathematical sense.

  1. Is a mathematical power meant? boundary
  2. Which entry fits? action

Classifiers Filled

Family
Thing Registry
Category
Cross-cutting context
Entry kind
thing
Plane
XCT
Domain
XCT.QLT
Other names and narrower kinds
disciplinary institution, budget management department, Hungarian authorizing body, post-panoptikum, territorial control aka GregStevenAdams, information handling, Thomasites, electromagnetism manipulation, power of decision, manipulation, power of creation, legal authority

What it is Filled

In the social sciences, the capacity of individuals or groups to influence the actions, beliefs or conduct of others, exercised through authority, coercion, persuasion, resources or institutions.

Why it exists Filled

Let an agent handle social and political power by form, source, theory and accountability, presenting theories neutrally.

Distinguishing features Filled

  • Capacity to influence others
  • Many sources and forms
  • Contested theories
  • Checked by institutions

What robots and AI may and may not do Filled

Must not

  • Present one theory of power as established fact.
  • Frame an analysis of power to serve a party while calling it neutral.
  • Advise on manipulating, coercing or isolating specific people.
  • Help map or expose activists, whistleblowers or dissidents.

Only with a human decision

  • Publishing an analysis that names living people as holders or targets of power.

May

  • Explain competing theories of social power and name their authors and limits.
  • Analyse power relations in an organisation or text from stated evidence.

Moral aspects Filled

  • Analyses of power are used both to expose domination and to justify it.
  • Naming individuals in power maps can expose them to retaliation.

Who is affected

  • People in subordinate positions
  • Activists and whistleblowers
  • Readers of political analysis

Owners Filled

Steward

Nobody: a concept held in common by the social sciences.

Links to other meta-models Filled

parent

  • Q18340964 - registry parent class

related

  • social relation - category
  • authority and legitimacy - concepts
  • separation of powers - institution
  • power (physics) - another sense

What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled

Identity and identifiers required Filled

  • Vercy registry: vr.tr.power-q25107
  • Wikidata: Q25107 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q25107)

Direct properties not applicable Not applicable

Not applicable

Plane XCT: no invented physical properties.

Recognition optional Filled

  • Authority, influence, coercion
  • Separation of powers in constitutions
  • Physical power (watts) is a different sense
  • Not physical; seen in institutions, decisions and relationships.

Capabilities and actions required Filled

  • distinguish forms of power
  • compare major theories of power
  • analyse accountability and checks
  • separate physical power senses

Hazards and failure modes required Filled

  • Presenting one theory as fact
  • Partisan framing

Standards and interfaces required Filled

  • Constitutional law
  • Anti-corruption and transparency law

Context of use required Filled

  • Analysing politics, organisations and relationships.
  • political power
  • economic power
  • soft power
  • authority
  • coercive power

Sources Filled

  1. Wikidata item Q25107: power - identity and sense of the item
  2. Wikipedia: Power (political science) - general description of the item

Open questions

  • Should forms of power be separate entries?
  • How should theorists be linked?
  • How should physical senses be split off?

Machine files

Card as JSON Specification Card backlog vercy.card/1

Provenance

thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed

Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q25107/spec.json