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To be a modern knight (49)

Does knighthood mean anything nowadays?

Pop culture and modern history have a special place for knights. We all know the legend of King Arthur and his sword Excalibur and his heroic defense of his people. Other figures, like the honourable maid Joan of Arc and the valiant William Wallace pop up in movies as defenders of the meek and beacons of inspiration.

But is knighthood only something to be relegated to the past and perhaps sometimes fantasized about in cinema and art? I think not!

A moral compass

Simply put, knighthood is timeless. Not necessarily in the martial sense, but rather in the moral code that was associated with knights.

You see, with great power comes great responsibility. Knights in medieval Europe were essentially elite warriors (power) that owned land (even more power). The laws of chivalry can be interpreted as the framework a knight has to follow to make his power excess tolerable by society. A brutish lord demanding obedience and taking what he can get away with is out-finessed by a noble lord that is humble and merciful.

Can't we then use the values of chivalry as a nice set of guiding principles for modern life? Here are some examples I find particularly relevant:

  • Honesty, in an age where anything can be faked (esp. with advances in AI). Authenticity is increasingly becoming highly in demand, and people who can speak their mind and heart in a courteous manner are going to be appreciated when it comes to relationships and professional settings.
  • Bravery. Today's world is full of uncertainty and risks. Doing nothing is the riskiest of all moves, but setting course to any direction requires commitment. Our society needs brave people to do what they think is right even when it doesn't seem immediately aligning with their career or societal expectations.
  • Humility, when self promotion is seen as an imperative knowing to come second can be precious. Modern leaders know that their role is to enable team members not micromanage them. Being aware of who adds value and how to make everyone feel safe, takes a person that understands that they are not the center of the world.

Knights as a social construct

But there is something more that the concept of knighthood can teach us. Going along with the definition of the knight as a member of the nobility that owned land and also was a front line fighter we observe an individual that is very high on the power ladder. Knights were pivotal to many historical moments and took important decisions that affected their societies. The feudal system had generated knights and they were one of the elite members of their societies.

By applying this logic to modern times, we can ask: who are today's knights? Given our capitalistic modes of production, the equivalent would be small business owners and executives.

And on a first thought, this does sound crazy. But give the idea a moment. Doesn't our culture treat these people as the main doers and movers? Don't we create stories about them and their deeds? The image of the paragon of progress, the meme of the win-win deal, the image of the entrepreneur that helped their local community or the companies acting as symbols of entire cultures (BMW for Germany, the FAANG companies for US and so on).

Ultimately, knighthood — like all great stories — is a framework. What matters is carrying forward the parts that still inspire and guide us. I hope these analogies to modern life help you channel your inner knight when you need it most!


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