TED-ED: How to understand power - Eric Liu

The video tutorial explores the concept of power, its significance, and its role in civic life. It identifies six main sources of civic power: physical force, wealth, state action, social norms, ideas, and numbers. The tutorial also explains three laws of power: it is never static, it flows like water, and it compounds. Finally, it provides guidance on how to become more powerful in public life by learning to read and write power, emphasizing the importance of character in wielding power responsibly.

Why is understanding power crucial in civic life?

• It helps in making friends.

• It is necessary for effective participation and avoiding exploitation.

• It ensures financial success.

• It guarantees political victory.

Which of the following is NOT a source of civic power?

• Ideas

• Social media

• Wealth

• Physical force

How does state action serve as a source of power?

• Through religious influence

• By controlling the weather

• By using laws and bureaucracy to influence behavior

• Through the use of social media

What does the first law of power state?

• Power is always static.

• Power is like water.

• Power is never static; it is always accumulating or decaying.

• Power is only for the wealthy.

What is the significance of the third law of power?

• It suggests that power is static.

• It highlights that power compounds, leading to more power or powerlessness.

• It states that power is like water.

• It implies that power is only for the elite.

What does it mean to 'read power'?

• To understand the distribution and dynamics of power in society

• To read books about power

• To write essays on power

• To ignore power dynamics

What is the relationship between power and character?

• Power plus character equals a great citizen.

• Power and character are unrelated.

• Character is more important than power.

• Power always corrupts character.