Communiqué to The Public
from
The Sixth Philosophical Council of Keeferton

KNOW BY ALL YE PRESENT, that on the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth days of July, in the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Twenty-Three, there took place in the Lands of Keeferton, County of Rockbridge, Commonwealth of Virginia, the Sixth Philosophical Council of Keeferton (hereinafter “Council”) consisting of Messr. Timothy W. Eaton; Ms. Connie Y. Lum, MBA^*; and hosted by the First Steward of Keeferton, Timothy J. Keefer, Esq. (collectively, the Trinity of Philosophers (see footnote)).

As the world awaited the outcome of this Sixth Philosophical Council, the participants ventured into Questions left unresolved from the First through Fifth Councils (Communiqués for each are available at:  www.dispatchestk.com).  There was no Call for Sentences, as no new business would be addressed by the Council.  No unfinished business was tabled.  As documented below, the event again demonstrably helped to illumine the questions that hinder all of mankind, in particular, How Shall We Then Live?  The Trinity of Philosophers entered, robed, into The Great Hall to the clarion call of English Trumpet.  Discussion on The Issues and Questions immediately ensued.

The Work of The People has been accomplished by The Sixth Philosophical Council of Keeferton.  The People are honored. 

Entered this, the 31st day of March in the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Twenty-Four, and in the Twenty-Second Year of Keeferton, by Our Hands:

Timothy Wm. Eaton, A.E., T.P.

Rdr. Timothy J. Keefer, Esq., T.P., First Steward of Keeferton

Connie Y. Lum, M.B.A., T.P. sitting-by-designation
_____________________________________________________

^* A majority of the Trinity of Philosophers selected Ms. Lum to participate in the Council as a temporary member of the Trinity “sitting-by-designation” for the purpose of the Sixth Council only, so that the work of the Council could proceed.

The following Opinion by KEEFER, T.P. and LUM, T.P. sitting by designation, for the Council is attached:

I.

The Sixth Council addressed two major Issues left unresolved by prior Councils.

A.

The Council addressed the issue of Animal Myth in Human Story, initially presented by the First Council and then charged to the Second Council, and ultimately all subsequent Councils. 

In recognition that early human storytelling was dominated by animal myths, the Second Council was asked to take up the meaning and importance of the late appearing animal themes during the First Council which include:

The Owl Princess; The Dream Mouse; The Mystical Cat; The Seventeen Magical Turkeys and the myth of The Woodpecker and the Double Lanternpost.
Observation offered by Dr. Turello: “I have seen the first animal omen: The Giant Turtle of Middlebrook!” and,
Mr. Keefer:  “We want to put the bone out for the bobcat.”

Although the Second Council was “asked to take up the meaning and importance of the late appearing animal themes during the First Council,” the Second Council tabled it.

Ultimately, the Sixth Council determined that animal myths provide information we can not otherwise manage to articulate.  Animals are an agency to help articulate different themes, not unlike The Existential Third Man!

B.

The Council addressed four questions which sprung from the Second Council’s review of Paulo Coelho’s “The Alchemist” that were never fully resolved.  These questions were:

Is there an outside force at work?
Do we have a “calling” which assumes an outside force or do these ideas come from one’s own mind?
Is there a hand at play in personal destiny?  
Is there something outside of science going on?

Furthermore, the Second Council offered some commentary:  There is the notion of a Timeless Other that is everywhere present and fills all things and is neither good nor bad – which are themselves subjective values.  Does “The Alchemist” stand for the notion that the universe always conspires in our favor when we really want something?  Are we always intended to succeed if we really try or pursue our bliss or treasure?  What about failure in life?  Isn’t there a lot of lying to oneself in life, such as telling ourselves stories?  Is there a force at play in what humans call “beginner’s luck”?

There is no question that many people live as if there is an outside force at work.  The Sixth Council had to consider what was a “force” and whether it should be viewed as “outside.”  This raised questions about “science” and “calling” as well, along with “perspective” and “narrative.”  The Council discussed the difference between that which is “improbable” and that which is “impossible.”  Definitions matter.  The Existential Third Man (ETM) (discussed by the Fifth Council:  https://dispatchestk.com/2022/02/01/communique-to-the-public-from-the-fifth-philosophical-council-of-keeferton/) was discussed and rejected as a “force” but was accepted that it could be either “outside” or “internal.”  It was agreed that the ETM assists in the area of “perspective.”  Science was also rejected as a “force” and was viewed more as a “factor” which is where the Council found agreement.  There are many “factors” at play which can variously be described as science, ETM, probability, etc.  There are, without question, outside forces, at a minimum this is the impact of factors and other participants in our lives.  

While science can and does play a role in probabilities, some interpret the highly improbable to be a form of “magic.”  For example, an event with three factors with double-digit probabilities of 30%, 20%, and 10%, yields a total probability of less than a single digit:  0.6%.  A 99.4% chance that it will not occur.  Yet, when it does, we look for an answer.  It was not impossible, but it was highly improbable.  Whether something is “magic,” a “miracle,” or merely improbable, we often take some form of meaning or message from it.  How we interpret it depends on our perspective, and those factors or forces that inform our perspective.  Whether a consciousness or “intent” is behind it is a desire for many and is integral to perspective.  Science, while important to inform our perspective, does not yet answer all questions and it may never do so; it has limitations.

A “calling” can come from any variety of factors or forces, both internal and external.  Concepts such as passion, duty, ability, desire, etc. come into play.  This can also bring about the question of whether we are telling ourselves stories to provide a narrative for our lives.  To some extent, we all seem to need narratives.  This can include observations about our past, present, or future.  Nevertheless, a narrative provides perspective, and once again enters the ETM.  Again, this narrative can be informed by a wide variety of forces and factors.  

The questions raised intriguing ideas.  The Council was able to answer two:  Yes, there are outside forces at work; Yes, not everything can be explained within the known realm of science.  Answers to the remaining questions depend on one’s perspective, informed by forces, factors, and, of course, the ETM.

II.

The Sixth Council addressed four Sentences that had been submitted under prior Calls for Sentences, but left unresolved by prior Councils.

A.

The following sentence was presented to the Second Council: “Death – is it relief from our withering physical husks?” and the debate expired with no conclusion. 

We offer some background. The author said, “Yes” death is relief from our withering physical husks.  One person asked, “Is that often but not always the case?  When you are young and healthy, for example.”  Another person asked, “Is it just so final that it is not anything?  Or is the relief just before death?”  One example being Steve Jobs saying “Wow!” at the moment of death.  Another person said, “So it’s not really death.”  We return to the author who said, “I think we will find out when we get there.”

Other comments in relation to withering husks and the imminence of death include: freezer burn and its benefits; Cheetos; and people having had near-death experiences.

The issue, re-raised for conclusion at the Sixth Council, came to a definitive resolution. One primary point of contention is the young do not have withering husks, and thus would not agree. One might assert the young and healthy are still disintegrating, though they may not see it. The pendulum swings quickly from young and healthy to disintegrating! Another example provided, however, was newborns, who are almost certainly not disintegrating, and thus meets the condition for death to be an escape from withering husks that is often but not always the case. The statement, thus, stands.

A follow-on issue from this inquiry was, is that (relief from physicality) all death is? We assert that there is always the possibility of something outside of relief from physicality, something ambiguous and unknown. While we might perceive this unknown, until such time of death this insight will be subjective and not applicable to anyone else. It may produce relief, surprise (i.e. Steve Jobs), or other reactions. We reiterate that the insight at death may not be universal. 

Result: Perhaps. 

B.

The following sentence originates from the Fifth Council:  “Sir, don’t mock me; it’s ungentlemanly.”  Discussion and debate followed at the Fifth Council, in which the following assertion was made: “Mockery is my love language.”  The Council entered into discussion.  Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, from his book known as “The Leopard”, said:  “To rage and mock is gentlemanly, to grumble and whine is not.” 

Result:  Agreed, based on perspective.

C.

The Council was asked to address the following sentence originally submitted to the Fifth Council:  “‘Welcome To The Black Parade’ vs. ‘Sk8r Boi’; discuss.”  The result of the Fifth Council was:  “NOT RESOLVED.”  Therefore, the Sixth Council took up the matter.

As an initial matter, the Council has determined that the Fifth Council did, in fact, discuss the sentence and, as a result, the determination of “NOT RESOLVED” was in error.  Nevertheless, the Council decided to further explore the matter and did review and discuss both “Welcome To The Black Parade” (hereinafter “Black Parade”) and “Sk8r Boi” with findings as follows.

Upon review, it appears that after sidebars on Duran Duran and David Bowie, the Fifth Council came to no conclusion on a preference for either “Black Parade” or “Sk8r Boi” resulting in its conclusion of “NOT RESOLVED.”  The Fifth Council, however, was not asked for a preference, thus the resulting error.  On that note, however, the Sixth Council has expressed a preference on enjoyability in favor of “Black Parade” as a point of information.  The Council made the following observations:  A) “Sk8r Boi” is more easily relatable or grasped; contains a looping story within a story; appeals to “the girls at the mall”; contains judgment; has a message of putting things in the past; and, is in color; B) “Black Parade” has more of a story; is more developed musically; contains a message of the dead hand of the past which can have meaning for the living if they take ownership of it; represents an immortality project or legacy; is more entertaining; is primarily in black & white; and, raises questions about its message and the value it may have for others.  Both involve street scenes, and the value of each work is up to the observer.

Result:  Discussed.

D.

The Fifth Council was presented with the following sentence: 

Has the production of Friday’s bagged potato skins been discontinued?  If not, could they be offered in ‘breakfast flavors’ such as chicken and waffles, Lucky Charms, or grits?

While the result at the Fifth Council was: NOT RESOLVED, that Council in fact researched the first question and determined Friday’s bagged potato skins is no longer available, at Fridays. Further ad hoc research revealed, however, said product lives on and is thankfully available via Amazon.com at $5 a bag, to the consternation of certain Council members.

Thus, the conditional could be explored, and it was determined that they very well can be made available in ‘breakfast flavors’ and any flavor, just like jelly beans, shoelaces, banana-flavored, Beef Wellington, and such like. The record will reflect other flavor items discussed: whipped cream, ice cream, leftover pizza (cheese, pepperoni), popcorn, squid chips, matcha tea-flavored “Kit-Kats”, chicken-n-waffle, Kobe Steak, cheddar and bacon, cheddar and sour cream, Lucky Charms, Count Chocula! Frankenberry, and bacon ranch. It may have been time for dinner. 

Result: Yes; and, Yes

III.

The Sixth Council sua sponte recorded the following Uncalled-For Sentences:

“Not everyone has an Existential Third Man.”

“I’m going to be groped.”

“The shower may have to yield to the Uncalled-For Sentences.”

“Doesn’t everybody hold on to their napkin?”

“We can’t take showers at the same time.”
“Oh, I was looking forward to that part of the Council!”

“The gin will flow.”

The Work of The People!