Great Man Theory

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By Christopher Ryan Maboloc, PhD 

Thomas Carlyle wrote that history is a product of genius by great men. Such rests in the assumption that that talent is in born or that some individuals are destined for greatness. Think for instance of Napoleon or Alexander the Great. This sort of hero worship suggests that the abilities of a hundred brave men cannot be equal to say, the greatness of a general who commands an army in a battle. For this reason, tacticians think that he who commands his army must be protected at all costs. This attitude does not preclude what men below can do. Rather, it emphasizes the idea of heroism or superior leadership. Without a General Dwight Eisenhower, it would be hard to imagine how the war was won in favor of the Allied Forces. In the same way, without hero worship, it would be difficult to paint the oppressive regime perpetrated by the Nazis.

But the theory hides something. Herbert Spencer criticized Carlyle, saying that great men are a product of the historical situation or circumstances surrounding them. The idea of "history from below" suggests that small movements help shape all other bits and pieces that actually contribute to the making of history. However, the basic point of Carlyle is that great men, through their special qualities or attributes, inspire others to achieve specific goals in society by means of their absolute influence, a point that William James supports. Great men, James think, are a decisive factor in social change or the evolution of society, for without such an impulse, or what Max Weber calls charismatic leadership, nothing happens.

In truth, some people are so well-connected and that is the reason why they get what they want. As a result, things are never fair. It is not enough that there are rules. The rules must not be determined by those who possess the power to influence the outcomes, which means that there should be a process in which people can say their piece and contribute to the decision making. A person can be elected into office democratically, but an uneven political structure means that vested interests will determine how a leader behaves, given absolute powers, while in office.

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