Abstractions In Power-Writing
Abstractions in Power-Writing
There are many abstractions in the Declaration of
Independence. These abstractions such as: rights, freedom, liberty and
happiness have become the foundations of American society and have
helped to shape the “American Identity.” Power, another abstraction
that reoccurs in all the major parts of the Declaration of
Independence plays an equally important role in shaping “America
identity.” One forgets the abstraction of power, because it appears in
relation to other institutions: the legislature, the King, the earth,
and the military. The abstraction of power sets the tone of the
Declaration, and shapes the colonists conception of government and
society. Power in the Declaration of Independence flows from distinct
bodies within society such as the King, the legislature, the military,
and the colonists.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines power as, “the ability
to do or effect something or anything, or to act upon a person or
thing” (OED 2536). Throughout the ages according to the dictionary the
word power has connoted similar meanings. In 1470 the word power meant
to have strength and the ability to do something, “With all thair
strang *poweir” (OED
power, king, declaration, colonists, independence, society, people, tone, interpretation, foucault, english, believe, word, meaning, force, because, make, hands, wills, role, powers, military, government, god, england, different, control, colonies, between, abstraction, ability, york, two, technologies, tax
