> Someone suggested that the "Mprc" ('M'eaning, 'p'urpose, 'r'eason, 'c'ause)
> of a jester is to keep the king from becoming self-important. I suggest
> that this may have been his function, but not the meaning, purpose, reason,
> or cause ("function", a result of hindsight which uses historical
> revisitation and advanced knowledge to evaluate the mprc of an event in
> light of the *effect* it subsequently had).
>
> Does one think that a king would decide one day "I need someone to make fun
> of me" (Our "cause" is to *self-destruct*)? Or, would the jester take his
> life in his own hands and decide "I'll make fun of the king, it'll keep him
> honest." (Our cause is to *sacrifice*)? Both of these paths lead to death
> [and on...]
The first Jester would be at high risk from the King. *If* there was a
/first/ Jester. The roles of King and Fool *developed*[1] side by side
and hand in hand. Like those of the ant and the acacia.
-Prof. Tim