I know there are tons of versions of this relatively simple idea out there. This is one of them. I'm sure it's missing some part of the proof. There are so many things one can prove with these two simple, elegant postulates...

This discussion about Power and Knowledge reminds me of an an analysis
conducted by an engineering friend some time ago.

Knowledge is Power
Time is Money 
and every engineer knows
Power is Work over Time 


Substituting algebraic equations for these time-worn bits of wisdom we get:


K=P (1)
T=M (2)
P=W/T (3)


Now do a few simple substitutions:


Put W/T in for the P in equation (1), which yields:
K=W/T (4)


Put M in for T in equation (4) which yields:
K=W/M (5).


Now we've got something. Expanding back into English we get:
Knowledge = Work over Money


What this means is that:
1. The More You Know, the More Work You Do, and
2. The More You Know, the Less Money You Make.


Solving for money we get:
M=W/K (6)
Money Equals Work Over Knowledge.


>From equation (6) we see that money approaches infinity as knowledge
approaches zero, regardless of the work done. What this means is:
The More You Make, the Less you Know.


Solving for work, we get:
W=M x K (7)
Work Equals Money Times Knowledge


>From equation (7) we see that work approaches zero as knowledge
approaches zero.


What this means is:


The ignorant rich do little or no work.


Working out the socioeconomic implications of this breakthrough is left as
an exercise for the reader.


-Zach
--------------


At 03:44 PM 7/22/97 -0400, you wrote:
>
>
>I think in the United States it's demonstrated over and over again that
>intellectual power = institutional or affiliated power. Current thinking
>restrains current thinking in this fashion; institutions filter, and at
>this point, determine intellectual economics, which amounts to a political
>economy of distribution.
>
>Power is held by tenure. Tenure is relatively inviolate; I know of several
>cases where laws have been broken and departments have covered up. 
>
>Intellectuality (if such is a word) shouldn't be equated, in fact, with
>power at all, but with self-criticism, love of knowledge, desire to com-
>prehend, and perhaps to further thinking. But in the US, at least, it is
>as corrupt as any other entrepreneurial enterprise.
>
>Alan