Abstract
This analysis places the English translation of Heinrich Popitz’s (2017) Phenomena of Power: Authority, Domination, and Violence in the broader tradition of philosophical anthropology. It is argued anthropological arguments such as that offered by Popitz give insights not otherwise available to strict disciplinary inquiries. Poptiz’s discussion of power also suggests an important tension in philosophical anthropology. While Popitz contends power relations are “humanly produced realities” not “imposed by nature,” he nevertheless provides some support that physical and biological factors might contribute to an understanding of power. This discussion illustrates this tension using examples drawn from Popitz discussion of power, threats of violence, and the exercise of authority.
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Notes
This understanding Mead’s conception of self as purely social is derived from Mind, Self I and Society—a volume written from the notes of his students not by Mead.
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Williams, J. The Philosophical Anthropology of Heinrich Popitz. Hum Stud 41, 503–511 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10746-018-9466-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10746-018-9466-8