Dear Editor
GOOGLE AI is rather good at giving ‘overviews’. I particularly like the way it writes ‘Thinking’ before giving you the answers. And being a machine and not a human one might assume it is ambivalent and unaffected by political bias. I also like the use of the phrase ‘immediate future’ which contrasts well with a five-year term for rule.
‘Which government and of which country?’ comes to mind when reading the following AI overview for ‘Tyranny’?
‘Thinking . . . ’
‘Searching . . .’
Tyranny is a form of government or conduct characterised by the arbitrary, cruel, and oppressive use of power. In modern usage, the term is pejorative and implies the illegitimate possession or use of authority, where the ruler prioritises their own interests over the welfare of the people.
Key Characteristics of Tyranny
Concentrated Power: Power is held by a single ruler or a small group of people, not restricted by a constitution, established laws, or opposition.
Abuse of Authority: The ruler exercises authority in an unfair and cruel manner, often involving the suppression of individual freedoms and rights.
Absence of Law: Tyrants often rule by personal whim (fiat) rather than settled, public laws, making their subjects victims of their passions and unjust desires.
Rule by Force/Fear: Control is maintained through physical or psychological domination, often involving the use of the military or secret police to keep the populace in line.
Lack of Accountability: There are no effective checks or balances on the ruler’s power, and citizens lack control over their immediate future or protections to ensure their safety.
Historical Context
Ancient Greece: Originally, in ancient Greece, a ‘tyrant’ (tyrannos) simply referred to a leader who seized power by unconventional means, not necessarily through hereditary succession. Some were popular and effective rulers who brought stability and peace, while others, like the ‘Thirty Tyrants’ of Sparta in Athens, were known for their brutal and bloody reigns, which gave the term its modern negative connotation.
Modern Usage: Since Roman times and the Enlightenment, the term has evolved to primarily describe a ruler or system that acts without restraint and puts their own interests before those of the citizens, leading to oppression and injustice’.
Paul Davies
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