{"id":40819,"date":"2025-03-19T10:00:19","date_gmt":"2025-03-19T17:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=40819"},"modified":"2025-03-07T09:58:25","modified_gmt":"2025-03-07T17:58:25","slug":"lucy-you-have-some-splaining-to-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/lucy-you-have-some-splaining-to-do\/","title":{"rendered":"Lucy, You Have some Splaining To Do!"},"content":{"rendered":"

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For nearly a decade in the fifties, American television showcased the comedy sitcom I Love Lucy, which remains an icon and one of the most beloved shows ever. In the starring role, Lucille Ball plays Lucy Ricardo, a silly and lovable housewife who gets herself into ridiculous and humorous situations. The line, “Lucy, you have some splaining to do,” is famously used by her husband, Ricky Ricardo, played by Ball’s real-life husband, Desi Arnaz, when Lucy gets into one of her infamous predicaments, resulting in chaos, embarrassment, or trouble.[1]<\/a><\/p>\n

This week’s reading by Stephen Hicks, Explaining Postmodernism<\/em>,[2]<\/a> is far from the quirky humor of “Lucyisms.” In fact, the concepts articulated by the author were downright confusing, causing me to search for clarity on the topic through the writings of others. At one point, the humorous voice in my mind said, “Stephen, you have some splaining to do.”<\/p>\n

I had to break things down into chunks to understand postmodernism and narrow my thoughts to consider only the topics of power and knowledge. I reviewed what Scripture says about these issues and compared it with the traditional view and the differing perspectives of Michael Foucault, a key reference in Hicks’ book. At one point, I attempted to contrast views with Noam Chomsky because I thought it would be an interesting comparison, but ultimately, I felt ill-equipped to do all of that in a single blog with limited space, so I scaled back.<\/p>\n

Foundations of Power and Knowledge<\/p>\n

2 Peter 1:3 says, “His divine power\u00a0has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him\u00a0who called us\u00a0by his own glory and goodness.”[3]<\/a> The Bible teaches us that all the power available from God to live and be godly comes\u00a0through knowledge<\/em>. While this alone doesn’t guarantee godliness, ignorance does seem to guarantee ungodliness.[4]<\/a><\/p>\n

The traditional secular epistemology of power and knowledge is typically assessed based on the number of rulers and whether their work is done in the public’s interest or for self-gain. Aristotle argues, “There are six regimes overall, but only three are correct.”[5]<\/a> He believed a regime is correct only if it serves the interests of society as a whole, not just its ruling elite. Here is a visual explanation of his categories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Number of Rulers<\/td>\nPublic Interest<\/td>\nSelf-Interest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
One<\/td>\nMonarchy<\/td>\nTyranny<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Few<\/td>\nAristocracy<\/td>\nOligarchy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Many<\/td>\nPolity<\/td>\nDemocracy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Aristotle’s Six Regimes<\/em><\/p>\n

Foucault, a secular thinker, flips the traditional hierarchical top-down concept by shifting the focus from the rulers to the people being ruled instead.[6]<\/a><\/p>\n

Foucault’s View<\/p>\n

Foucault felt that conventional power concepts, which were hierarchical and moved only one way from the top down, were far too simple. He argued that power moves around and even through people; the more interesting view is to study the followers. Scriptures concur with Luke 8:46: “But Jesus said, ‘Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.” Like Michael Foucault, I believe divine power is internal and external. It moves and flows in ways that direct our steps with help from the Holy Spirit and affect others along the way. It is the sweet spot of connection, those serendipitous experiences that leave us in wonder.<\/p>\n

Although the cultural norm has primarily been to consider the power in places such as the Capital or courthouses, its forces truly reside in some of the most unexpected locations such as prisons, hospitals, and even schools. You cannot deny that a unique force occurs within a prison riot, a hospital strike, or a school walkout. “The state is far from being able to occupy the whole field of actual power relations and, in fact, can only operate on the basis of the other, already existing power relations.”[7]<\/a><\/p>\n

“If you want total security, go to prison. There, you’re fed, clothed, given medical care, and so on. The only thing lacking\u2026is freedom” \u2013 Dwight D. Eisenhower.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Rather than looking at the leaders of these institutions, consider studying the followers and their potential power. I have often talked about the value of followership, which is vastly underappreciated. What good is a leader if you cannot inspire your followers?<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/p>\n

The intersections between traditional and postmodern perspectives on power and knowledge are intriguing, especially when biblical wisdom is incorporated. While thinkers like Aristotle and Foucault emphasize different angles on the distribution and movement of power, the Bible recognizes that power and knowledge are not merely about dominance from above but flow through individuals and circumstances. Whether it’s through divine power (as 2 Peter reminds us) or the everyday interactions of society, power is dynamic and shared.<\/p>\n

At the end of the day, much like Lucy’s chaotic escapades in I Love Lucy<\/em>, the complexities of power and knowledge in our world can leave us feeling a bit confused. But instead of waiting for someone else to explain it all to us, maybe it’s about us stepping into the flow ourselves, gaining a deeper understanding, and navigating these forces with wisdom and humility. And as for Stephen Hicks\u2014well, he has certainly given me a lot<\/em> to think about!<\/p>\n

\n

[1]<\/a> \u201cI Love Lucy TV Show History.\u201d Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum<\/em>, n.d. Accessed February 23, 2025. https:\/\/lucydesi.com\/i-love-lucy-history\/.<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> Hicks, Stephen R.C. Explaining Postmodernism: Skepticism and Socialism from Rousseau to Foucault<\/em>. 2nd ed. Coppell, TX: Ockham\u2019s Razor Publishing, 2011.<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> \u201cBible Gateway Passage: 2 Peter 1:3 – New International Version.\u201d Bible Gateway<\/em>. Accessed February 23, 2025. https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=2%20Peter%201%3A3&version=NIV.<\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> Piper, John. \u201cThe Power of Knowledge.\u201d Desiring God<\/em>, September 9, 1985. Accessed February 22, 2025. https:\/\/www.desiringgod.org\/articles\/the-power-of-knowledge.<\/p>\n

[5]<\/a> Whitney, Stephen. \u201cAristotle\u2019s 6 Forms of Government – Intellectual Takeout,\u201d March 7, 2023. Accessed February 23, 2025. https:\/\/intellectualtakeout.org\/2023\/03\/aristotle-6-forms-of-government\/.<\/p>\n

[6]<\/a> GreatBooksProf. \u201cFoucault Power and Knowledge.\u201d Video. YouTube<\/em>. Last modified June 13, 2021. Accessed February 23, 2025. https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=brqCtHSlaAQ.<\/p>\n

[7]<\/a> Foucault, Michel. Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison.<\/em> New York: Random House US, 2012.<\/p>\n

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