On Persuasion: The Fulfillment of Ends through Others (A Tapestry of Ends Book 17)

On Persuasion

With excerpts from Aphorisms: Volume One

In which is explored the idea that “persuasion is the act of compelling another to fulfill one’s will,” achieved by molding one’s reputation, maximizing one’s presence, knowing the target’s incentives, framing the target’s understanding, achieving the target’s compliance, and realizing the target’s fulfillment.

"The two princes of a warmongering sultan seek to achieve his favor and to establish their own claims to the throne. They agree to head in opposite directions and to conquer neighboring kingdoms. The elder prince amasses an army of freshly trained young soldiers and establishes the hierarchy of commanders from his tight circle of trusted lifelong friends. The younger prince amasses an army of both seasoned and green soldiers and establishes an ensemble of battle-scarred generals many years his senior. The elder prince heads east and arrives at the walls of the targeted kingdom. The people inside see a seething frenzy of vigorous young soldiers, giddy and undisciplined and eager to prove their mettle. The old sultan within looks out at the unknown invaders (no reputation), chuckles at their disorganized frenzy (no presence), immediately realizes their youthful inexperience, designs a shock and awe campaign, and sends out his best troops to scare away the scattered youth. Midway through the energetic battle, the defending soldiers begin decapitating and catapulting into the invader’s ranks the heads of the slain soldiers of both sides. The hellish horror of the act terrorizes the untested soldiers and the elder prince finds himself with trembling troops no longer committed to the campaign. He reluctantly orders a retreat and they flee home. Meanwhile, the younger prince heads west and noiselessly arrives at the walls of the targeted kingdom. The citizens within suddenly see an organized army of invaders standing in silent unison (presence); among the soldiers and commanders are seen many familiar faces, terrifying, tested soldiers (reputation). The old sultan trembles at the undetected arrival of the silent invaders and scrambles to respond with troops of his own. His shock and awe causes him to move with uncertainty, shattering the confidence of his subordinates all the way down to his soldiers, who ultimately take the field before the mute invaders literally trembling in their boots. The battle is quick and decisive, the kingdom falls, and the younger prince returns home with a rightful claim to the throne."

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d.hues is a thinly sketched persona of the Cartesian Demon. His character has a wife, kids, and a company job. He is an undeveloped stereotype who does not matter. What matters only are your feelings about the ideas explored under this nom de plume.