Molyneaux's Problem: Part 1

It is hard to say when an adventure begins, what ties a series of events together? So I have to make a choice where to begin this episode in my life. I had received a summons (email) to have a meeting with the Chairmen of the Philosophy Department where I am an associate Professor of Philosophy. The meeting was on a sunny southern California afternoon; a Friday afternoon. So I put on jeans, sneakers, a nice top, and grabbed my straight cane. I am totally blind, no light perception. I also wear dark glasses to cover my cloudy white eyes. It is only a short walk from my apartment to the Los Angeles University where I teach. Cane walking seems to be one of the blind things that sighted people most amazing. While I am not sure how amazing cane walking is, it is considerably different experience than sighted people have walking. There is a definite rhythm to cane walking. At one time I used to imagine myself as a giant living metronome, I should say it is not an unpleasant feeling. It can be wonderful if you have a song in your head, I guess the best analogy I can give sighted people is dreaming, when the rhythmic breathing becomes part of the dream. I guess that is why so many dreams are musical or poetic, but I have come to think of cane walking as more of a dance. Maybe it is the romantic in me. After all moving is space to rhythm is the very definition of dance. Cane walking has another similarity to dance. While sighted people can live in their head behind their eyes while walking, in cane walking consciousness seems to spread out in your body. You feel the texture of the ground under your feet, and with your cane tip. You feel the changes in sound, echos, and air flow from the objects surrounding you. An example that sighted people understand is when you are walking along a sidewalk by the flow of traffic, and enter a tunnel. The sound, echos, the feel of the air flow all change their quality. I am sure most sighted people could probably feel they were walking into a tunnel even blindfolded. I was having these reflections and imagining myself as a ballerina, when my cane struck a fire hydrant that wasn't supposed to be there. Yes I can recognize a fire hydrant by the sound of a cane strike. I has walked a block out of my way. Blindness does have a way of bringing you back to the concrete. Anyhow, I did make the meeting with the Department Chair, Tom Gracia, and realized why I did not really want to make the meeting. He wanted me to get more involved in the Philosophy Department. So I agreed to start a reading group and to give a talk to the Philosophy Club. I chose Plotinus's book "Enneads". Both events were scheduled for the following Wednesday. I should know better Wednesdays seems to be a fateful days in my life. Anyhow, the other thing Tom had to tell me was that he was giving me a new T.A. her name was Nora Mills. I was surprised when he told me she requested to work with me. She was known to be interested in social justice, and political philosophy, while my field was metaphysics. She is also very well connected, her Father is a Professor at another University, and her Mother is a social justice attorney. I have to admit I was suspicious of all this, I do not have the best reputation, some of my occult adventures have filtered back to the school. So of course, I dumped all the work of setting up the reading group and the speech to the Philosophy Club on Nora. After all what are grad. students who want to please you for? I had decided to to give the speech on Molyneux's Problem. This also tied in to the book I am writhing on the visual bias in thinking. Anyhow, 4:00P Wednesday came, time for my talk on Molyneux's Problem. One of the benefits of being blind for me is never having stage fright, when you cannot see it does not matter if you are talking to one person or a crowd of hundreds. To briefly state Molyneaux's problem is to imagine someone who has been born blind that can tell the difference between a sphere and cube by touch. If they were all of sudden given sight could they tell the difference between the cube and sphere by sight alone. The short answer is "no", but it does lead to some interesting insights. In George Berkeley's early philosophy, he argued that visual perceptions must be translated into tactile (touch) or tangible sensation to be of use to us. Visual perception is always must conform to the sense of touch or else vision is useless. In other words, no mater how good you see it does you into good if you walk into walls. From this insight I argued that the visual world is a tangible illusion; sight gives the illusion of touch. Well, none of my audience seemed to get either the philosophy or the humor. Here I was a blind person telling a bunch of sighted people they were living in an illusion, yet I got no questions or comments. So after the meeting I got back to my office to wait for the reading group. This may be the event that really set this adventure into motion. I got a message from Detective Steve Jenkins, telling me he wanted to talk to me. So I messaged him back, and her agreed to come by after the reading group, and give me a ride home. Nora my new T.A. had done a good job at setting up the reading group; I was pleasantly surprised. With my new T.A. there were five members in the group. Nora had followed my instructions to have everyone bring a copy of the book, so they could take turns reading and then discuss the reading. The time went quickly, and I told Nora I was pleased with her work. It helps to keep grad. students motivated when they are trying to please you. Although I was suspicious of her. Anyhow when I returned to my office I found Steve and another Detective named Jai Tower waiting for me. Detective Jai Tower actively disliked me, we first met when the incident where I acquired the Monas Stone was investigated. She was a black woman who has been a track and field star in college, but decided to become a cop. I am not sure if she is Steve's partner or they just work together a lot, I am not really up on police procedures. Anyhow, we all ended up in my office. Steve got right to the point: "Tell me everything you know about the P.R. Group? They are an occult society of some sort." I answered truthfully: "Never heard of them, and no nothing about them." I heard Jai mutter: "I knew it, this was a waste of time." Sighted people often forget blind people hear everything, but she probably did not care she intensely disliked me. Steve then asked: "If you could ask around, I know you have sources. I would appreciate it." My first reaction was anger. What am I some sort of shady woman, or gangster moll that has entry to the underworld. I bit my tongue, I wanted to stay on Steve's good side. He had been very useful in the past, and I am attracted to him. so I lied: "Sure I promise."This was of course, a promise I had no intention of keeping. After I got home I thought I had successfully put the whole meeting and promise out of my mind, but the gods had different ideas. I took a long bath feeling both brilliant and adorable, them went to bed and fell asleep right away. You can imagine my surprise when I awoke floating in the dark dimension, surrounded by the Hounds of Tindalos. I had swallowed a gem called the Monas Stone that allows me to access other dimensions of reality. Reality is like a wave, our universe could be said to only exist at the top peaks of the wave; like the music on a F.M. wave. The bottom swings of the wave would be the dark dimension, and in between our universe and the dark dimension is the universe of the Elder Race. Each universe taking turns phasing in and out of existence as the wave oscillates. My blindness is not an issue in the dark dimension, because it is a universe of mind not matter. The entities of the dark dimension resemble autonomous thoughts, The Hounds are such entities. They appear like bat-like creatures with dog faces. Of course their appearance is only an analogy that my mind makes of their thought content. The leader of the pack made a mental connection with me, gentle as a domestic dog. The Hound had a message for me: "The Great One has heard your inquiry. Tomorrow you shall receive an audience with one who shall answer your questions." The meeting with the Hounds was over, and I fell back asleep. Sure enough when I got up in the morning there was a message on my phone from a man who called himself Randal Klaw, he specifically mentioned it was spelled with a "k". I was instructed to call back; Hugo wanted to meet with me. At this point I thought the Great One was Yog Sothoth, but I was mistaken. I called back even though I really did not want to, something told me this was not going to be a pleasant experience., but when demon-gods tell you what to do, you do it. It would turn out my bad feeling would be vindicated. Randal Klaw had a mature voice, but a firm voice. I was instructed to meet him outside my department building. I did remember to tell him I was totally blind, and to ask how I should dress. He received what I told him with indifference, and told me neither mattered. I got the impression that Klaw cared little for people or their problems. I had slipped into calling him Mr. Klaw, because of the authority he seemed to possess. Klaw had no problems with my blindness navigating me into the van that was driven by a silent associate of his. There were no preliminaries or greetings once I was in the van instead he told me: "Take off your glasses." I did as he told me, he continued: "They shall be returned to you after your audience with Hugo." I know this may seem strange to sighted people, but I could feel his cold eyes on me. He continued with a slight edge of amusement in his voice: "You are receiving a high honor in meeting Hugo." Finally we arrived, I was led inside some sort of structure, and was told to change into a light robe after removing all my clothes. I did as I was told. I also asked if there was any special etiquette I should observe during my audience with Hugo. This time I could tell he was really amused in his reply: "Hugo will instruct you." He then led me down a long narrow staircase, it seemed we were going underground, there were no crosscurrents of air flow. We finally came to what seemed an odd shaped room. When you are blind, you get used to echos, and the feel of rooms, this room seemed wrong. He led me to a spot somewhere in the center of the odd room, no chair, left standing. I could hear his footsteps ascending the staircase. I did not have long to wait. I felt sick, dizzy, I crumpled to the my knees, and then down flat on my belly. I vomited up the contents of my stomach. Then Hugo was there. Hugo was a Cthulhu spawn. One of Cthulhu's offspring, that can live in our universe, one of his soldiers, or should I say commanders. I had heard they existed, but never believed I would meet such an abomination. Hugo was a miniature of his Sire. Being blind did not affect my perception, my mind and all my senses had been taken over and dominated by Hugo. I fest pains, and shivers going through my body, a sickening smell in my nose, and a bitter taste in my mouth. I was completely dominated, I lay helpless on floor of that strange room. Like I said there was a mental link, so I had no need of sight to know how Hugo looked, the writhing face tentacles, the clawed hands and feet, the humanoid body with wings were all imprinted on my mind. Then my ears came under assault, Hugo spoke: "Greetings Necromancer, I see Yog Sothoth has found a new toy." I later learned that the title "Necromancer" was applied to Magi that served Yog Sothoth. His grating voice shattered what little emotional control I had left. I was scared, helpless, and dominated in mind and body. "You seek information on the P.R. Group: your questions shall be answered." I really did not want to know, but choice was long gone. Hugo continued: "You may wonder why I am called Hugo?" Again I really did not. His grating speech continued: " It is just a human name I like. As you know my real name is unspeakable in this Universe, but back to you inquiry. The P.R. Group is a society founded by Oswald Kroll, The purpose is to seek political power through the use of psychic power. Kroll is a very powerful psychic. He can project a glamour to alter his appearance; he can appear any way he wants to people. He has also acquired a relic of power, called the Carmilla dagger. A sort of vampire dagger that can steal memories when touched to people. It you are wondering about the name, the Magos who forged the dagger was a fan of the horror writer J.S. Lefanu. My High Priest Randal Klaw shall give you more information." Hugo paused I tried to grunt some show of gratitude, since I knew it was expected. Then Hugo continued: "Necromancer, I look forward to our next meeting" And Hugo was gone. Klaw arrived with a towel, he cleaned me up, and somehow got me up the staircase, I was still in a state of shock, and helpless. It was a shattering experience. I now understood the Great One the Hound was referring to was Cthulhu god of Domination and War. When began to recover and come around, I found myself seated at a table with a glass of water, with Klaw. Klaw told me to call him Randal, I had earned his respect. I guess by surviving my audience with Hugo. "Hugo like you. That was a great honor he showed you." Randal told me in an amused voice. he continued in his usual firm tone: "So you seek knowledge of Kroll and the P.R. Group?" I nodded my head automatically in affirmation. My mind was still in shock. Randal continued: "The P.R. in P. R. Group stands for psychic resistance. The group was founded by Oswald Kroll and Nick Edwards to try to gain political power through the use of psychic methods, they are still active. I used to know Kroll, he was a student of mine some years ago, but has since struck out on his own" He paused I guessed was supposed to say something, showroom I stammered out the comment question: "Was there a Renaissance alchemist by the name of Oswald Kroll?" I heard a mutter of approval, this time I could hear the smile in his voice: "You are very smart. Yes, it is an assumed name, just like he assumes appearances. He is skilled at deception. I am one of the few who knows his real appearance." I managed to stutter out: "What does he look like?" Randal went on: "He is short and slight, around five feet tall, he has blond hair, and blue eyes, but he always makes himself look taller and bigger. I manged to stutter out another question: "What about the name." Randal answered in a friendly tone: " Never knew it, As you know many people in the occult use assumed names. I am an example. Klaw is an assumed name shortened from Demonklaw. It is hard to be a respectable accountant and a High Priest of Great Cthulhu. So had to keep both lives separate till I was able to devote myself completely to my religion." He then gave me a stack of papers telling me they contained useful information. I got dressed back in my own clothes, and was helped into the van and driven home. The shock started to lessen on the ride home, it would seem to phase in and out. In one of my lucid phases in the ride it occurred to me maybe I was a shady woman. Randal was good enough to navigate me right to the door of my apartment. I sure I could have not made it on my own. I went directly to the shower, after a long hot shower I filled the tub and lunged around until the shock wore off. I know I should have called Steve right away, but even if the fate of the world depended on my information the world would have to wait until I felt clean again. Anyhow I did call Steve in the evening I was getting hungry, at least he could buy me dinner for what I went through. END OF PART 1