Business Post Contributor
By Nneka Okumazie
The reward system is popularised in neuroscience just like power systems in engineering. In a quest for a philosophical map – of human power behaviour – is the necessity for interchangeability of those.
Reward systems are loosely defined as good feeling anticipation or completion. Power systems, loosely, are those that convert certain energy to required energy.
Though separate in their subject areas, these two are hardly bifurcated elsewhere.
This world, driven by authority, leadership or control, shows that to be in charge is – probably – the most desirable status.
Power – political, corporate, intellectual, group, recognition, etc. are often a ruthless and competitive pursuit with anything in play to attain or retain.
Power is often rewarding in part because of ease, as humans and resources are subjects, as well as respect among other powerful individuals.
Just like the reward system lets substances and other stuff hooks, so is power in its addictiveness.
There are people who seem OK, with where they are or what they have, but they often play up for more, and then much more, in what does not seem would change much, or what they do not seem to have a good plan for towards more success.
Power – in philosophical neuroscience, can also be described with what is called incoming. Incoming per what comes to the eyes, the mind, the ears, the body, etc. in desirability, quality, and rarity.
It seems like the better the incoming for most, the better their happiness, so everyone aligns for better incoming.
For example, some get compliments on a major fashion or looks, some get new respect or some form of honour with a new device, car, property, or some cool acquisition, those things become a magnet for incoming that makes the mind feel so good. For some incoming is like news of something great, etc.
The lack of incoming for many results in lots of behaviour that make them seek out reward. So, if there’s a way to get incoming, it is preferred than to be responsible for giving incoming – mostly – to others.
Incomings are mostly aligned to positivity, negativity, or disappointment seems like default most times, so not considered as incoming.
Though there are neurochemical pathways and secretions for reward systems, reward systems too are like power.
There’s motion [energy] converted to good feel [energy], erasing whatever [static] that could bother.
The problem with the world is more than about power than about anything else.
Mostly, it is just to want more – to gain control.
Even sin, the choice to do as desired, go with the trend, is about power, feeling in control.
People talk about impermanence – like death – dispossesses, but just like avarice is irrational to some, is the same as the talk to death to those seeking power.
But what people call power is just position, does not last and never secure.
All power, scriptures say, belong the Jesus.
The world has many activities, and many seem carried away, but the time of Jesus would come – with no option for anything else.
Position fails and earthly power as vapour.
[Exodus 15:4, Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea.]
