7. Epistemology in Barcelona (5 pgs.)

ACT I - CHAPTER 7

EPISTEMOLOGY IN BARCELONA

Tuesday November 7, 2017

Sports City of the Club de Los Reyes

Barcelona Spain

When Alexandre finished drafting the first chapter, including Arturo and Ricardo’s additions, he destroyed the meeting recording and prepared the material for the next session.

He asked a furniture maker for an acrylic tetrahedron twice the size of a football. He placed it on the coffee table in his apartment. Each glance reminded him of “existence,” “identity,” and “consciousness,” and their corollaries.”

Following Ronald’s instructions, Alexandre opened CARD #2: EPISTEMOLOGY. Inside was a thick cardstock card, in Spanish.

“How can you know it?” he said aloud. He learned epistemology studies how humans learn. It came from the Greek ‘episteme’, knowledge, and ‘logy’, study.

Alexandre read Ronald’s notes. He wrote that Plato, Aristotle, and Kant answered the same question in contradictory ways. Their views could not be reconciled. Kant vision was the root cause of human problems.

He explained that you need to think to survive and, because you think with concepts, epistemology studies how you form them. Valid concepts hold percepts, perceptions of real things. Invalid concepts hold fancepts, perceptions of fantasies. People often use the same words but give them different meanings. The consequence was uncommunication. Confucius saw this problem and wanted to reform language.

Epistemology felt intimidating at first, but its treasure slowly revealed itself. Alexandre felt the excitement for the coming meeting.

During training one day, a tall stranger watched. He approached Alexandre at the exit.

“They said you’re Alexandre. I’m Boris Petrov. Investigating Ronald’s accident,” the man said, extending a hand.

“Do you know these men?” Boris asked, showing a photo of Franco Gambino and another man near the Louvre’s glass pyramid.

“He owns the club,” Alexandre said, pointing to Gambino. “I don’t know the other.”

“You don’t know Lenel Anston?”

“No. Are you police?”

“No. I investigate independently. Remember anything before Ronald’s death?”

“No. Do you know where his car is?” Alexander asked.

“I’m looking. Why?”

“I need discretion,” Alexandre said and thought, Perhaps this is my chance to avenge Ronald. “Don’t give me data on the phone, but write my number. Call me if you find his car. Information in person only.”

“OK,” Boris nodded.

“I think someone caused the accident,” Alexandre said lowering his voice and looking both sides.

“I suspect the same,” Boris responded. “I’ll call you. Here’s my card. Anything strange before Ronald died?”

“He called the day before. Warned me about what ‘reads the same in both directions.’ I don’t know what he meant.”

“Did he tell you that?”

“Yes.”

Boris wrote “LENEL” on a scrap of paper. “It reads the same both ways. Ronald warned you to be careful with Lenel Anston.” Silence followed.

“Do you think he killed him?”

“No proof yet. But I suspect.”

“Tell me everything.”

“I’ll contact you if I learn more,” Boris said, then left.

It was Tuesday. Victoria arrived Friday night. Alexandre had to finish Ronald’s book summary. You were so methodical, my friend, he thought, remembering the detailed instructions he had left. Late nights awaited. He needed careful planning, especially after being called to the French national team for the World Cup in Russia.

“What are you all? You are one heart! What do we gain if we are one heart? We are one body! And what do we gain if we are one body? We win the championship! And if we win the championship, we are immortal!” Greg shouted before the match. They had lost the last game, and rumours spread about a new coach. The fans wanted him gone.

That afternoon they won two–nil. Alexandre scored both goals. His precision was improving. Writing the book sharpened his focus. But more than that, the metaphysical acrylic tetrahedron in his living room seemed to shape his mind. The black one was in his vault, waiting to the next meeting. It was inside his mind. It made his thinking clear. His focus deepened. His confidence grew. His words were sharper. His emotions steadier. His decisions precise. A new force was growing within him. At the centre, the tetrahedron.

When he arrived home, Francisca opened the door wearing only a T-shirt, teasing him. The first thing he saw were her long, perfect legs. Then her face, green eyes, playful smile. They kissed until breathless, stumbled into the bedroom, and didn’t stop until dawn.

The next day they had lunch in a luxurious restaurant, then walked slowly through the streets of Barcelona.

“Are you okay?” Victoria asked. He stayed silent.

“I mean Ronald,” she said. “I feel you’re hiding something. I won’t pressure you, but you can count on me.”

He stopped, kissed her, and held her waist for a long time. He whispered, “I love you,” but thought, I can’t talk about the meetings. I can’t mention Boris or Lenel. Sorry.

“I love you too,” she said, thinking, What are you hiding from me, darling? She knew he was keeping secrets. He couldn’t tell her about Boris, the meetings, or Ronald’s murder. He had to protect her, even if it hurt.

“Do you want to talk about Ronald?” she asked gently.

“No, my darling. I’m better, but I need time to process it. Taking one weekend a month off will help. You don’t mind, do you?”

“I don’t mind,” she said softly but firm. “Just remember, I’m not only your lover. I’m your best friend.” If you’re cheating on me, I’ll leave you, she thought.

“It’s only for a while, I promise,” he said. She’s suffering, he thought, holding back tears. He took her hand. She hugged him, resting her head on his shoulder. They walked in silence through Barcelona.

“Do you want me to give you a massage when we arrive?” Victoria asked.

“Yes,” Alexandre smiled. She’s strong. She’ll endure, he thought.

After a nap, she kept her promise. They didn’t leave the bed until the next day.

After breakfast, he took her to the airport, then went straight to training. On his phone he read: UNITED STATES SENDS AIRCRAFT CARRIER AFTER NEW NORTH KOREA NUCLEAR TEST.

In the following weeks, he kept studying epistemology. He wrote, drew, and filled the wall with large sheets of notes. Each page was marked with colours, highlights, and ideas. Finally, he finished the next section of Ronald’s book. He was ready for the next meeting.

One of his drawings was the tetrahedron:

The Metaphysical Tetrahedron