Acknowledging Intelligence

The twelve labours of Heracles or Hercules (Greek: ο? ?ρακλ?ους ?θλοι, hoi Herakleous athloi) are a series of episodes concerning a penance carried out by Heracles, the greatest of the Greek heroes, whose name was later Romanised as Hercules. They were accomplished over 12 years at the service of King Eurystheus.  

When I think about guiding our apprentices, we are imparting knowledge of a sort, for personal development. Over the years, our masonic libraries have accumulated collections of opinion pieces. Some are more valuable than others- a status we grant begrudgingly to experts among us.  Age gives credibility. So does rank. Both have more to do with a sense of celebrity than validity.  For hundreds of years, a celebrity of the day has been dragged out to convince people- by virtue of their recognizability- there is merit in what they are saying- completely fallacious but it feeds a habit.  What sections as exist within the 'masonic corpus'  generally explain our means justify the ends- teleology; masonic ethics is consequential. Is the only opposing notion left to us- deontological- the morality of an action are independent of the outcome. So what is the use of this for me?  To understand this purpose we need to look into an interesting branch  Greek philosophy- eudaemonism. It is uncanny that eudaemonism contains so much that is at the heart of masonry.   When you reflect on learning through the accomplishment of demanding tasks, what does it say to you?  A respect of intelligence and beauty opens the mind.