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Language:
English
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Published:
2021-07-03
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262
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1/1
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Some Fool Thing

Summary:

A short philosophical conversation about Foolamancy

Notes:

(See the end of the work for notes.)

Work Text:

"I spent considerable time in the Magic Kingdom, long ago. Before the Temple of Thinkamancy was built and the Eyemancers gathered there, Foolamancers had an airy glade on a cliff, where we met for the Thing."
"Thing?"
"An old word for a meeting of equals, to decide on matters. Founded by Hakim Lieweaver, who was a Signamancer and a Foolamancer. I read a lot of his work."
"Was it useful?"
"Not as such, but I didn't need useful at the time. We, Faq, were a comfortable bubble kingdom. But he delved into the philosophy of Foolamancy. He said the core of the discipline was this: 'Every day, belief in imaginary things alters lives, while truth sits unnoticed and waits.'"
"Hmm. I've heard that back home. 'Consensus reality.'"
"Indeed. Control what is perceived, and you control what is believed, and then what 'everyone knows'. After a certain point, it ceases to matter that the truth is something else. He also posed the question, 'Which is more important? A false belief, or a disbelieved truth?' I still don't think I have an answer for that."
"Could you contemplate it, while in the link?"
"Somewhat, when we were not maintaining the map. I was merely 'Foolamancer', not myself, but it is philosophy of Foolamancy. And of Thinkamancy and Findamancy, to a lesser extent. But stray thoughts grow exhausting while linked."
"I will keep that in mind if I'm ever considering using a long-term link."
"Were you likely to?"
"No, the one-third fatality rate is prohibitive. Which is convenient, discarding options for moral reasons is brittle."

Notes:

The glade where the Fool Thing met, being on a cliffside and therefore next to the open sky, was also called the Fool's Air. When the Temple of Thinkamancy gathered steam, that was the Fool's Air end.