A

Epistemology 133

these conditions. Operation under this emotional stress builds Perceiver
confidence, which in turn allows the Perceiver observer to handle more
Mercy light.
Building confidence, like sheltering it, creates a separation between
Perceiver facts and Mercy feelings, but this time the division is internal.A
As the Perceiver observer continues with its thinking under the discomfort
of the Mercy spotlight, it gradually wakes up and realizes that it and the
Mercy experiences which it is observing are not the same. This leads to a
mental distinction between fact and feeling: Facts describe the Perceiver
connections between experiences, whereas feelings are the Mercy labels
attached to the experiences. In other words, Perceiver labels of „right‟ and
„wrong‟ become independent of Mercy labels of „good‟ and „bad.‟
This means that Perceiver confidence can only grow when „good‟
experiences are „wrong‟ or when „bad‟ experiences‟ are „right.‟ B If „good‟
is always „right‟ and „bad‟ always „wrong,‟ then there is no need for the
Perceiver observer to wake up. Instead, Mercy processing remains
sufficient to define both Mercy feelings and Perceiver 'facts.' C Remember
this point. It will become significant later on.

Conflict between Mercy and Perceiver labeling makes confidence grow.

 Initially, „good‟ is labeled „right,‟ and „bad‟ is labeled „wrong.‟

 As Perceiver confidence grows, facts separate from feelings.

I suggest that the growth of Perceiver confidence goes through three
stages. First, there is an awakening. The Perceiver observer discovers some
connection; it catches a glimpse of some fact. If Perceiver thought decides
to hold on to its fact, this leads to the second stage of struggle. Here, the
Perceiver observer attempts to cling to its discovery while at the same time
the emotional glare of Mercy emotion tries to knock the fact from its grasp.
I suggest that this struggle results from a conflict between Mercy feelings
of „good‟ and „bad‟ and Perceiver knowledge of „right‟ and „wrong.‟ On
the one hand, Perceiver thought insists that „wrong‟ must also be „bad‟ and
„right‟ must also be „good.‟ On the other hand, Mercy strategy is equally
convinced that „bad‟ is „wrong‟ and „good‟ is „right.‟ It is when these twin
assumptions crumble that the final stage of acceptance is reached.

A I suggest that the same contrast can be seen in communism and

capitalism. Communism plans the economy centrally and externally, as we
do morally with harassment laws and conflict-of-interest legislation.
Capitalism, in contrast, like confidence, trusts that the corporate will
become ordered as each individual, internally, makes the right decisions.
B Yes, I‟ve written it correctly. It is precisely this abrasive atmosphere

which is necessary.
C My use of straight quotes is quite deliberate, as you will soon see.