Good Moral Character Examined
February 20, 2020
G.D.O'Bradovich III
introduction
After undergoing a required physical examination for a lucrative position, Apprentice Redact sought the council of Yours Truly and explained that he will need three letters of recommendation from non family members to be considered for this hoped for employment. It seems that Apprentice Redact’s potential employer abides by the ancient maxim of possessing a sound mind in a sound body. The exact sequence of our conversation is not easily recalled, as there were more segues than a Platonic dialogue and we frequently found ourselves sidetracked, due, no doubt, to our regaling in the life of Apprentice Redact, otherwise said, “swimming in the lives of the Apprentices”. Inexplicably, we agreed to write not only a letter of recommendation, which is easy enough, but a letter with the express wording of “good moral character”. “Don't you love farce? My fault, I fear.”
We offer that as an unintended consequence of our immersion in the alleged writings of the Church Fathers and philosophical discourses, the composition of a clear letter in the modern style proved to be exceedingly difficult. The legitimate and futile paragraphs were written, collated, and duly submitted for the approval of Apprentice Redact. The following essay is our true thoughts on the topic of a “good moral character” and it is included for the edification of the Gentle Researcher.
We offer that as an unintended consequence of our immersion in the alleged writings of the Church Fathers and philosophical discourses, the composition of a clear letter in the modern style proved to be exceedingly difficult. The legitimate and futile paragraphs were written, collated, and duly submitted for the approval of Apprentice Redact. The following essay is our true thoughts on the topic of a “good moral character” and it is included for the edification of the Gentle Researcher.
the letter
Dear Sir,
Apprentice Redact has humbly requested that Yours Truly, a recognized Master of the Occult Arts and Sciences, write a letter of recommendation concerning the suitability of Apprentice Redact for employment. Apprentice Redact specifically stated that the inclusion of the wording “good moral character” is a requirement of the said recommendation and herein lies the central concern of this otherwise reasonable request.
The word “good”, that is, “to be desired or approved of”, is not an absolute term, since the meaning of “good” varies according to circumstances, to individual perceptions, and individual perceptions of circumstances. The quality of goodness is, in a word, relative.
Morality, the possession of the principle of morals, has many possible definitions and a multitude of understandings. The “distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior” is a confusing definition. Should the distinction be understood as between “right and wrong” with “good and bad” or between “right” with “good” and “wrong” with “bad”. Regardless of how one attempts to interpret this ambiguous definition, the essence of “morality” is simply the adherence to certain conventions, that is, a specific manner of actions that are expected to be followed in certain, but not all, circumstances.
Character is defined as the “mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual”. Even before our entrance into the Wonderful World of Occult Research™, we did not, and have yet to, observe mental qualities. We only observe certain behaviors and actions that we may or may not be correctly interpreted as either indicative of morality or of a hierarchy of values.
From the above considerations, the wording of “good moral character” has no clear meaning- it is confusing, at best, and plastic, at worst. "When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, "it means just what I choose it to mean- neither more nor less." We speculate that recommendation letters mandating the phrase “good moral character” are the unexpected consequences of attempts to rationally adhere to both legal regulations and insurance guidelines. We recall Saint Paul’s rhetorical question to the Corinthians: “Need we, as some others, ... letters of commendation from you?”, yet, previous to his conversion, Saul “went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters”.
Therefore, Gentle Potential Employer, we cannot honestly declare that Apprentice Redact possesses what cannot be defined. It seems that Leprechauns and “good moral character” populate the same universe. In conclusion, we paraphrase the immortal words of Meatloaf: “I would do anything for the Apprentices, but I won't misrepresent my ignorance as knowledge.”
However, we unequivocally state that Apprentice Redact, as with all of the Apprentices and many of the Highschoolers, possesses the admirable qualities that will enable him to excel as an employee, a citizen, a friend, a husband, and a father. Apprentice Redact is, by Nature, reticent, which we interpret as an aspect of being thoughtful. Of course, presumptions are not certainties. We accepted Redact as an Apprentice due, in part, to this trait that we understand as the hallmark of maturity. However, certain Apprentices, we realized too late, are both “loud and a vexation to the spirit”.
Apprentice Redact is capable which, in the modern age, is a rare ability and immeasurably superior to “good morality”. Morality, when properly understood, is the singular result of a rational mind that accepts reality, engages with materiality, and honestly interprets facts. Our definition of morality is infinitely more challenging than being good and doing good, or seeming either to be good or to do good, as one must value honesty above all else- honesty with oneself, with Creation, with mankind. Of course, valuing truthfulness does not impose an obligation on us to relate our lifetime of effort and resultant knowledge to the ignorant. There is no distinction between the morality concerning interactions between the individual and the physical world, science as commonly understood, and engagements with one’s fellow man. We may suggest that one of the issues of modernity is the separation of man into behaviors that are acceptable and not acceptable by subjective criteria, to wit, there exist two systems of values for engaging with the rational world and with the presumably rational thoughts and actions of men. As a certain philologist once wrote: “That which is done for love, is always beyond good and evil [emphasis added].” ¹
Warren Buffett oftentimes states that if one acquires a wonderful company at a good price, then fantastic results are guaranteed. From this analogy, Apprentice Redact is to be understood as the “wonderful company” that will perform regardless of the owner, or employer. If the Gentle Employer will heed our advice, then the acquisition of Apprentice Redact will make a valuable addition to your organization, “good moral character” aside.
In Thoth, "Beaky" to his friends, I remain
G.D.O’Bradovich III
1 Aphorism 153: “Was aus Liebe gethan wird, geschieht immer jenseits von Gut und Böse.”
Apprentice Redact has humbly requested that Yours Truly, a recognized Master of the Occult Arts and Sciences, write a letter of recommendation concerning the suitability of Apprentice Redact for employment. Apprentice Redact specifically stated that the inclusion of the wording “good moral character” is a requirement of the said recommendation and herein lies the central concern of this otherwise reasonable request.
The word “good”, that is, “to be desired or approved of”, is not an absolute term, since the meaning of “good” varies according to circumstances, to individual perceptions, and individual perceptions of circumstances. The quality of goodness is, in a word, relative.
Morality, the possession of the principle of morals, has many possible definitions and a multitude of understandings. The “distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior” is a confusing definition. Should the distinction be understood as between “right and wrong” with “good and bad” or between “right” with “good” and “wrong” with “bad”. Regardless of how one attempts to interpret this ambiguous definition, the essence of “morality” is simply the adherence to certain conventions, that is, a specific manner of actions that are expected to be followed in certain, but not all, circumstances.
Character is defined as the “mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual”. Even before our entrance into the Wonderful World of Occult Research™, we did not, and have yet to, observe mental qualities. We only observe certain behaviors and actions that we may or may not be correctly interpreted as either indicative of morality or of a hierarchy of values.
From the above considerations, the wording of “good moral character” has no clear meaning- it is confusing, at best, and plastic, at worst. "When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, "it means just what I choose it to mean- neither more nor less." We speculate that recommendation letters mandating the phrase “good moral character” are the unexpected consequences of attempts to rationally adhere to both legal regulations and insurance guidelines. We recall Saint Paul’s rhetorical question to the Corinthians: “Need we, as some others, ... letters of commendation from you?”, yet, previous to his conversion, Saul “went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters”.
Therefore, Gentle Potential Employer, we cannot honestly declare that Apprentice Redact possesses what cannot be defined. It seems that Leprechauns and “good moral character” populate the same universe. In conclusion, we paraphrase the immortal words of Meatloaf: “I would do anything for the Apprentices, but I won't misrepresent my ignorance as knowledge.”
However, we unequivocally state that Apprentice Redact, as with all of the Apprentices and many of the Highschoolers, possesses the admirable qualities that will enable him to excel as an employee, a citizen, a friend, a husband, and a father. Apprentice Redact is, by Nature, reticent, which we interpret as an aspect of being thoughtful. Of course, presumptions are not certainties. We accepted Redact as an Apprentice due, in part, to this trait that we understand as the hallmark of maturity. However, certain Apprentices, we realized too late, are both “loud and a vexation to the spirit”.
Apprentice Redact is capable which, in the modern age, is a rare ability and immeasurably superior to “good morality”. Morality, when properly understood, is the singular result of a rational mind that accepts reality, engages with materiality, and honestly interprets facts. Our definition of morality is infinitely more challenging than being good and doing good, or seeming either to be good or to do good, as one must value honesty above all else- honesty with oneself, with Creation, with mankind. Of course, valuing truthfulness does not impose an obligation on us to relate our lifetime of effort and resultant knowledge to the ignorant. There is no distinction between the morality concerning interactions between the individual and the physical world, science as commonly understood, and engagements with one’s fellow man. We may suggest that one of the issues of modernity is the separation of man into behaviors that are acceptable and not acceptable by subjective criteria, to wit, there exist two systems of values for engaging with the rational world and with the presumably rational thoughts and actions of men. As a certain philologist once wrote: “That which is done for love, is always beyond good and evil [emphasis added].” ¹
Warren Buffett oftentimes states that if one acquires a wonderful company at a good price, then fantastic results are guaranteed. From this analogy, Apprentice Redact is to be understood as the “wonderful company” that will perform regardless of the owner, or employer. If the Gentle Employer will heed our advice, then the acquisition of Apprentice Redact will make a valuable addition to your organization, “good moral character” aside.
In Thoth, "Beaky" to his friends, I remain
G.D.O’Bradovich III
1 Aphorism 153: “Was aus Liebe gethan wird, geschieht immer jenseits von Gut und Böse.”
addendum
Since the genesis of this essay, the Boy Scouts of America have declared bankruptcy due to the extent of claims of physical abuse by certain members. To state the obvious, these men lacked both “good moral character” and a hierarchy of values. The use of force or guilt or fear is not the manner of rational men either for achieving success or for making acquisitions. The reliance upon guilt, force, and fear to achieve one’s goals is the result of an irrational understanding of the world, of a immature interaction with reality. As political philosophy teaches, mankind does not change and there will always be a majority of people who, by the capricious gifts of Nature, are disposed to find solace in the irrational and comfort in the childish. No amount of education, training, or recourse to legislation will altar this fact and the expected enlightenment of the masses is an idea that inhabits the same universe as “good moral character” and leprechauns.
We have no fond memories of our time in the Boys Scouts, however, we do not recall anything negative during those formative years with the Scouts. We are aware that modern science teaches that memories are not static, but change with the passage of time and this discovery certainly causes consternation with Leos and Virgos, in a word, schadenfreude. As we do not have a revolting reaction towards the Scouts, we must infer that no aspect of our tripartite mind is in opposition to Scouting. From this fact and this inference, we conclude that, for us, Scouting was, if not beneficial, then not detrimental. We have given financially to the Scouts when, on rare occasions, we are solicited. We give precisely because of the lack of negative connotations. The Gentle Astrologer will draw the appropriate conclusions from the premise of a Capricorn giving money to strangers. Having earned the Arrow of Light, we withdrew from Scouting.
We have no fond memories of our time in the Boys Scouts, however, we do not recall anything negative during those formative years with the Scouts. We are aware that modern science teaches that memories are not static, but change with the passage of time and this discovery certainly causes consternation with Leos and Virgos, in a word, schadenfreude. As we do not have a revolting reaction towards the Scouts, we must infer that no aspect of our tripartite mind is in opposition to Scouting. From this fact and this inference, we conclude that, for us, Scouting was, if not beneficial, then not detrimental. We have given financially to the Scouts when, on rare occasions, we are solicited. We give precisely because of the lack of negative connotations. The Gentle Astrologer will draw the appropriate conclusions from the premise of a Capricorn giving money to strangers. Having earned the Arrow of Light, we withdrew from Scouting.
Our first encounter with the irrational is lost in the mists of time. Fortunately, we recall sufficient experiences to be cautious in contemporary situations. The majority of these involvements concern those individuals who expressly and adamantly adhere to religious propositions, the resultant and inevitable hypocrisy notwithstanding. Obedience is the touchstone of religiosity and obedience is predicated upon an external authority. The Occultist, the scientist, and the philosopher recognize no authority, but the rational mind, and herein lies the eternal conflict between the these men and the majority who seek externalities as validation for their surmises, speculations, and suppositions. The worst offenders against reason and the greatest supporters of superstition are the clergy, or those who claim to speak in the name of God. We wish to make it clear that religious studies do not make men bad, anymore than scientific research makes men good. Irrational men are drawn to fantasy, just as rational men find comfort in reality. It is informative that the views of ministers of religion are always identical to the dictates of God and, from this fact, it seems that there are myriads of Gods promoting mutually contradictory assertions. Our aversion to such worldviews is due almost entirely to our inability to predict or to anticipate their behavior and the remainder of our aversion is due to the reliance upon force, guilt, and fear. The irrational has no limits.
However different the externals, Apprenticeships in the Occult, “deals with Devil”, and Natural Law posses one vital aspect: consent. From this singular fact, it reasonably follows that teachers cannot teach unwilling students, demons cannot impose their will unilaterally, and contracts require approval from both parties.
However different the externals, Apprenticeships in the Occult, “deals with Devil”, and Natural Law posses one vital aspect: consent. From this singular fact, it reasonably follows that teachers cannot teach unwilling students, demons cannot impose their will unilaterally, and contracts require approval from both parties.