Social Classes

Olympianity has been the dominant religion of Olympia throughout its history. Olympianity is the religion of power. Consequently, we may identify the social classes of Olympia primarily in terms of power.

The top social class of Olympia, in all ages, has been the ruling class. It is commonly referred to as the upper class. The people of this class are primarily the ones who make the rules to which the rest of us must conform. For them, life is an exercise of will or an indulgence of whim. This class also includes people who are related, in some significant way, to the people actually making the rules.

We will refer to the next class as the managerial class. It is commonly, though less accurately and more vaguely, referred to as the middle class. The people of this class are primarily the ones who implement the rules made by the upper class. To do that well, and so maintain their position in society’s hierarchy of power, they must use their minds well. This class also includes people who are related, in some significant way, to the people actually doing the managing.

Middle-class people are primarily the managers of people, processes, and information. They have less power over society, organizations, and people than rulers do, but they exercise power over some other members of their own class and definitely over people in lower classes.

The next class in our hierarchy of social power is the working class. It is commonly referred to as the lower class. Rulers make the rules; managers manage people, processes, and information in conformity with those rules; but someone still has to do the work. Members of this class are primarily the ones who use their bodies to do what needs to get done to keep the people above them happy.

The last class in our hierarchy of social power is the marginal class. Despite its great size, and the cruel suffering of its members, it is generally not referred to at all. This class includes all the people who don’t fit into the other classes: nobody cares what they will; they lack the knowledge, skills, or social connections needed to manage others or to relate meaningfully to someone who does; and they can’t or won’t do the mind-numbing or back-breaking work available.

In Olympia, through the ages, we may identify four social classes in terms of power: ruling, managerial, working, and marginal.

Copyright © 2013 by Steven Farsaci.
All rights reserved. Fair use encouraged.