The Book of Wit

The Book of Wit contains stories which exemplify the knowledge gained as a character increases in intelligence.

  • Aware
    • The awareness of wit is governed by the impulsive balance.
    • Sodium -- At the beginning of the aware level, the newly discovered awareness of perceptions produces such a sense of satisfaction in those perceptions that reflexes are ignored or deadened. Think of a sea slug which has been poked so many times it no longer reacts, but instead revels in the satisfaction knowing it is being poked and is OK. Sea elf and slug
  • Self-Absorbed
    • The needs of wit are governed by the imperial balance.
    • Potassium -- At the beginning of the self-absorbed level, the newly discovered ability to immerse oneself in story produces such a sense of self-satisfaction that perceptions are ignored when they contradict the story-self. Think of Don Quixote living his heroic epic so vividly that his perceptions of the windmills are sacrificed to the story of fighting giants. Knight of Delusion

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  • Non-Genius Track
  • Copper? -- Later in the self-absorbed level, introspection has allowed the self-absorbed individual to manipulate the perceptions of those who have not yet learned the power of the story. This led to an overweaning belief in the power of the self, ultimately conflicting with others in way that had to be resolved by the creation of an inner story. Satisfaction blossoms as perception is once again sacrificed (within the inner story). Think of the child after her final temper tantrum -- satisfied that the refusal to lose her temper will better influence her parents than screaming would. The Temper of Orgatz
  • Inter-Character
    • The friends of wit are governed by the interpersonal balance.
    • Rubidium? -- At the beginning of the interpersonal level, the newly discovered ability to define oneself by a group of related stories (known as a "adopting a role") produces such a sense of communal satisfaction in those shared roles that story can be changed or ignored. Think of a sixth-grader's satisfaction in knowing they rule the playground in grammar school, sacrificing the needs represented by the story of their younger selves. Brusius in the Schoolyard

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  • Non-Genius Track
  • Silver? -- Later in the interpersonal level, introspection has allowed the social group to manipulate the stories of those who cannot yet combine stories into a role. The members of this group have come to rely on one another to build their roles, even though they apply those roles in other contexts, ultimately conflicting with those outside the close-knit group of peers. This conflict had to be resolved by the individual members of the peer group each realizing they had to be able create their own roles. Inner satisfaction emerges as stories are changed or ignored internally as well as part of the group. Think of the member of a junior-high clique who decides she can still be a member although she thinks of herself as an outsider. Rebel with a Cause
  • Organized
    • The organization of wit is governed by the institutional balance.
    • Cesium? -- At the beginning of the organized level, the newly discovered institutional self experiences satisfaction to extent that roles can be ignored (or even evolved) as long as one has system of roles (the institutional self itself) among which one can choose. Think of the recent MBA graduate setting up a balance in his life between his marriage, his church, his new job and his political party. Magus Whisterium Chooses Court

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  • Non-Genius Track
  • Gold? -- Later in the organized level, introspection has allowed institutional self to manipulate the roles of those who still identify with a single group (which defines one specific role, of which the institutional self has many). Ultimately this led to a kind of intellectual fascism, depending solely on the control of the institution, resolved when authority itself became institutionalized and organized. Satisfaction is built as roles are compartmentalized systematically, circumscribing their power. Think of an organizational chart used by a businessman to limit the damage which can be caused by corporate nazis too enamored of the institutional ideologies of a company and its stockholders. Creating the Guildmasters Guild
  • Principled
    • The principles of wit are governed by the interindividual balance.
    • Francium? -- At the beginning of the interindividual level, the newly discovered principled self experiences intimate satisfaction as ideological extremes are smoothed into higher principles and right relationships. Think of the corporate president who retires to find a new level of intimacy with his wife and children and grandchildren. Guildmaster Kharanazt Retires

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  • Non-Genius Track
  • Unununium? -- Later in the interindividual level, introspection has allowed the principled self to manipulate the institutions of those who have yet to be able to give up their institutional ideologies. This led to a temptation for the principled individual to assume authority over the ideologies subscribed to by others. This is resolved through the creation of interior standards of right relationships which are more important than convincing others to accept the principles in which the intimate self believes. Satisfaction comes from the knowledge that even if followers choose erroneous ideologies, it is better that they choose them themselves. Think of Jesus after he refused the offer of the crown of Israel and of control over an army ready to rebel against Roman rule. Proseus the Scholar and the Firdian Rebellion -- a great intellectual leader is asked to aid an army in a revolt against those who persecuted his parents.

See also Treasury of Tales and Intelligence.

— Scotus - 22 Nov 2001