Joe liked to persuade people that life was best lived and business best
done according to what he called "paradox" philosophy. It was a
combination of situation and utilitarian ethics: the ends justified the
means, and one should do whatever had to be done to benefit oneself. From
different perspectives, the same item or situation can have contradictory
qualities: White is black and black is white. Everything depends on how
you look at it. As long as there was a payoff, one could reconcile
oneself to doing anything. Anything.
The core group of "boys," as they called themselves, prepared a
presentation in 1983 to give to 30 prospective members, in which Joe
outlined how the club would be formed. Sue Horton points out that he took
his central tenets from science fiction: People would operate in
"cells" comprised of a small number of members, and a
"nexus" for communication. They would propose
"shapes," or monetary projects, for approval by the whole club,
and the shape would have an "output."
The club itself was to be run by specific levels of personnel, and the
three founders were to be called "Shadings." A Shading -
someone who operated in a shaded realm between black and white - was
eligible for leadership because he was the one who best understood
paradox philosophy and who was committed to protecting it by doing
whatever needed to be done. Shadings would be judges in the Paradox
Court, and they would resolve all internal disputes.
As Joe put together his company and brought in more members�always young
men from families of wealth or breeding - he gave them a test, which was
later described in court as the following:
"Would you murder someone, if you knew you could get away with it,
for a million dollars?"
"No."
"Would you do it if it were a matter of saving your life?"
"No."
"Would you murder someone if you had to do it to save your
mother?"
"Well�yes."
"Then you can't claim that you have a line you won't cross."
If there were no moral absolutes, as Joe contended, then it was just a
matter of believing sufficiently in the situation to take the necessary
action.
MORE ON...
http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/young/joe_hunt/3.html
