Ataraxia Mundi

The Incandescent Sun Society is a globe-spanning movement made up of hundreds of fraternal groups. They trace their origins to secret societies in Ancient Greece, called "mysteries." Most members claim that their founder was Anaxagoras, whose philosophy was considered "atheistic" by many at the time. Anaxagoras' ideas challenged existing ideas, namely by claiming the sun was a collection of red-hot metal, from which the movement derives its name. His most notable philosophy was the idea of a "Cosmic Mind," which later thinkers simply called "Nature." There are several extant traditions, but the North American branch is by far the largest and has, in recent years, subsumed most other Incandescent organizations.

The Incandescent Sun Society currently operates a network of humanitarian organizations, such as the One Kosmopolis Foundation, a group specialized in humanitarian aid. Monad AI, a notable tech company seeking to use transformer models to create "general artificial intelligence" is another Incandescent organization, with their symbolism and sayings scattered throughout their San Francisco Campus. Notable historical members included people such as Thomas Paine, William Seward, John Barrymore, and Peter Jennings. Current members include Michael Anton and Amy Allen. The most prominent figure in the movement is Dr. Kingsley Dean who has gained a fairly large following due to his cultural and political views.

Heavily inspired by Greek Stoic philosophy, the group was largely responsible for the recent resurgence of Stoic Philosophy in the west. They maintain many ancient traditions, customs, and rituals, such as requiring an oath to "Nature" before any and all gods. For this reason, the Incandescent Sun Society is banned in over a dozen countries and is occasionally the focus of conspiracy theories.

Esteemed New World Strategos Command,

While we were relocating our archives to make way for the US government's acquisition of the land here, I made a troubling discovery. Well, two, but you are well aware of the ever-worrying certainty that some intelligence agencies are growing suspicious. That is no matter.

The archives have revealed yet more secrets and, as usual, I request more staff as the East Coast Archivist. We don't have the means to contain all of these documents, and my team and I have no choice but to return some documents to various archives and universities throughout the country. That is no matter.

Perhaps unlike the other letters I have sent, this one will catch your interest. With this letter I have also sent a copy of various writings from shockingly prominent philosophers. Though I have no choice to leave the Mayan Stone Tablets here with the US government, I believe they remain untranslatable for them. That is no matter. What is important is that this philosophical idea as of yet unseen in history. I asked some colleagues in the philosophy department, nothing that leaks classified information I'm happy to say, but they never heard of the concept.

Ataraxia Mundi seems to be a philosophical idea inspired by Platonic idealism. Have your Ontology Office explain that to you. What's important is that these documents are all valid and somehow ended up here in the New World Archive. I recommend contacting the Vatican and Baghdad archives. I would say, "that is no matter," but this is an urgent recommendation. I implore you to investigate this.

Various philosophers are here—previously unknown writings by Epicurus, Zeno of Sidon, Hermes Trismegistus, Valentinus, Nicolas Flamel, Jabir ibn Hayyan, Al-Farabi, Nagarjuna, and Saint Thomas. I recommend interrogating Flamel. Again, why we have writings from Thomas in particular is troubling to me. There are several anonymous accounts of the life of Christ who I caught a colleague attempting to steal. Do not read them without proper precautions. They are being transported via plane to Strategos Command. I, frankly, do not trust the Vatican right now. ~~That is of no matter.~~

I mentioned the Mayan tablets earlier. Do not attempt translating them. We will recover them at a later date through official channels.

I apologize for the informal tone of this letter. I have been taking stimulants for the past few days as I only found out about this relocation a few days ago. Those feds are only a decade away at most. That is no matter.

I don't have time to revise this. It's missing some details.

Thank you for reading this,

Dr. Morgan, New World Strategos Archivist

Preliminary report on Atraxia Mundi

Clearance—Archivist

February 4th, 1999

Esteemed New World Strategos Command,

The following explanation greatly simplifies the findings of the ontology office, but represents a treasure trove of new ideas for the philosophers to mull over. Numerous debates and sticking points have already been uncovered, so this report only includes that which the entire office can agree. Thus, it may not be entirely accurate but includes useful working definitions of these words and ideas.

Ataraxia Mundi draws from the Epicurean idea of Ataraxia—the pursuit of a modest and sustainable way of life that was said to be the ideal way of living. Despite being an ardent materialist and atomist, these writings suggest that the conventional understanding of Epicurus is completely incorrect. The new writings describe a higher immaterial realm from which a "Swerve" could emerge. In Epicurus' world view, the swerve was simply a non-determistic event without which the universe could not exist. Crucially, it was also responsible for human free will. This idea goes by many names, but it is crucial to understand Ataraxia Mundi.

Hermes Trismegistus is a troubling figure in history. His writings prop up everywhere and it is difficult for us to convince academics that the author is unknown. In a short-sighted attempt to keep his existence a secret, many of his writings were burned in the late 19th century. These new writings reveal the basis of Ataraxia Mundi. A related hermetic idea, the Anima Mundi, is believed to be the "world soul." Early hermetic writers began equating the terms to Epicurus' swerve. Though later thinkers, such as Al-Farabi, equate the idea to Plato's World of Forms. Unlike the conventional interpretation, the Anima Mundi is believe to be Plato's world of forms in which perfect archetypes exist corresponding to everyday objects.

Because the archetypes are abstract objects, they do not exist in reality but within something like the "mind of God," though Plato would never describe it that way. Al-Farabi's well-known writings claimed that the archetypes or "forms" as they were existed within the mind of God. These new writings equate these ideas to those found in alchemy. These writings contradict conventional Islamic beliefs and were likely kept secret for that reason. This is the origin of the term "Ataraxia Mundi," meaning peace for the world. Al-Farabi and many contemporaries believed that the pursuit of Ataraxia Mundi involved applying peace to the entire universe. The idea that it was up to mankind to give God peace of mind was a radical one.

It is unclear how the uncovered Gnostic texts, such as those written by Saint Thomas, fit into this picture or why there were preserved alongside these mundane but highly disruptive texts. We have elected to keep these sealed in the new Owensboro archive. If we determine that these documents are not Weird, we may release them and usher in a new and exciting era of philosophical discourse.

The Gnostic writings are, in fact, Weird as were most documents directly written by the disciples of Christ. We will keep them in containment indefinitely. Dr. Morgan made the correct decision. The Vatican will not receive these documents for now as we have not heard from Cardinal Erikson.

New World Ontology Department

Written by Dr. Derek Bush

Internal Statement from New World Strategos

Clearance—Archivist

April 14th, 1999

To all Archivists,

We are putting an indefinite pause on hiring or promotion for the department. We are shifting priority to uncovering information on a newly uncovered group of interest pertaining to ancient Greek Mysteries. The Vatican claims all Greek Mysteries were routed in the sixth century, but it seems they are unreliable. Do not communicate with the Vatican, Baghdad, Ürümqi, or any of their subsidiaries about the issue. We are designating Salt Lake City as the center of operations for this priority. Direct any questions to their Archivist.

New World Strategos Command

Letter from ██

Clearance—Archivist

███ ██, 2000

Esteemed New World Strategos Command,

Special Interrogation Results are promising. Five of our spies have been shown to hold dual allegiances, and not minor religious ones either. They were part of what was rightly assumed to be a Greek Mystery, though one unfolding in the United States. The results are attached to this letter.

██

Summary of Special Interrogation Results

Concerning:

Deputy Agents Boris Milet, Victoria Lu, and Markus Lubar. Special Agents Emily Volker and Susan Rand.

Deputy Agent Boris Milet

West Coast Basilisk—Northern California Directorate

Found to regularly attend organized religious service.

Failure to report membership in secular organization.

Failure to report sexual relations (twenty-five counts).

Failure to report sexual relations with a colleague (one count).

Participation in potentially Weird activity.

Failure to report Weird phenomena.

Workplace intoxication (minor).

Deputy Agent Victoria Lu

West Coast Basilisk—Mountain Directorate

Found to regularly attend organized religious service.

Failure to report membership in secular organization.

Failure to report sexual relations (fifteen counts).

Participation in potentially Weird activity.

Failure to report Weird phenomena.

Deputy Agent Markus Lubar

West Coast Basilisk—Northern California Directorate

Found to regularly attend organized religious service.

Failure to report membership in secular organization.

Failure to report sexual relations (fifteen counts).

Participation in potentially Weird activity.

Failure to report Weird phenomena.

Failure to report grievous injury.

Failure to report mental illness.

Agent Emily Volcker

West Coast Basilisk—Southern California Directorate

Found to regularly attend organized religious service.

Failure to report membership in secular organization.

Failure to report sexual relations (forty-two counts).

Failure to report Weird phenomena.

Insubordination.

Agent Susan Rand

West Coast Basilisk—Pacific Northwest Directorate

Found to regularly attend organized religious service.

Failure to report membership in secular organization.

Failure to report sexual relations (one count).

Failure to report sexual relations with a colleague (one count).

Breach of decorum (one count).

Failure to report Weird phenomena.

Notes

All five agents were found to be participating in an Incandescent organization, the "San Jose Stoic Society." Though officially a secular organization, three of the agents were found to have engaged in ritualistic activity as evidenced from the markings on Markus Lubar's body. The purpose of the ritual is unclear and none of the participants were aware of why they were doing it. They claimed to be following orders from someone named "Kingsley." It is unclear who this individual is and local police were unable to find any DNA evidence of his presence. This is a potentially Weird activity. Two agents—Boris Milet and Susan Rand—can be rehabilitated. We recommend termination for Victoria Lu and Emily Volcker and further interrogation of Markus Lubar before eventual termination. The building in which this has taken place has been condemned and is awaiting demolition.

All five agents experienced a recent surge in interest in philosophy, in particular classical philosophy. Colleagues report their increasing interest in a wide range of texts including Gnostic Gospels and Stoic texts. It is unclear how these are related, but it is notable enough to potentially be Weird.

Follow-Up Incident Report

Agent-in-Charge John Selznick, responsible for interrogating the agents, has been found to be attending a similar organization, though he reported his activity. Upon questioning, he said that he found the arguments compelling. He has been placed on leave with pay, but we do not recommend termination. A copy of Markus Aurelius' Meditations has been found in his desk, though, as a philosophical text, it does not meet the qualifications for dual loyalty. We recommend revisiting texts related to the Incandescent movement as potentially indicative of dual loyalty.

The Fundamentals

There is no secret society or order that grants its most sacred fundamental truths to the earliest initiatives. There is but one truth, the relationship of casus and clinamen.

No one philosopher in the ancient world had a grasp on both. Epicurus had revealed to him everything, but failed to see the divinity inherent to reality.

Stoics such as Zeno, grasped the divinity but became caught up in emotional self-regulation without the light of Eastern traditions.

The truth lies in a source more ancient than these men—Anaxagoras. He tore through