Author: Marcus of Ar (edited by Abraham Jacobson, 2025)
This primer aims to define "Gorean Philosophy" by distilling core tenets from John Norman's Gor books, emphasizing that true Gorean thought is often self-evident to its inhabitants but requires careful study for Earthlings. It argues that accepting these tenets is crucial to understanding what is Gorean.
I. Essential Gorean Virtues
Three key virtues are defined:
Strength: The capacity for effective action.
Integrity: The state of being unimpaired, whole, or complete.
Vigor: Enthusiasm, intensity, and capacity for natural growth and survival.
II. The First Underlying Principle of Gorean Perception
"The Acknowledgement of Difference": The understanding and acceptance that human beings are not inherently identical in form or function and should not be expected to be.
III. The Gorean Argument (on Sex Differences)
This section posits that fundamental biological differences between men and women, shaped by evolution, predispose each sex toward specific behaviors and emotional needs.
Men and women are "almost completely different" (look, think, act, feel, emotional responses).
Human males are biologically predisposed to physical dominance.
Evolution naturally selected for strong, competitive males and females attracted to them.
Vestiges of this selection process still create emotional needs and instinctive drives not met by modern Earth society.
Recreating this "natural" situation (where women are within men's physical power) could lead to fulfillment otherwise denied, allowing acceptance of inherent nature.
IV. The Ten Irrefutable Dicta of the Gorean Philosophy
These are the primary explanatory statements of Gorean philosophy, asserted to be self-evident on Gor but compiled for Earthlings. They are distinct from practices like slavery or honor, which developed from these dictums. Acceptance of these dicta is deemed essential to truly being "Gorean."
Nature's Truth: We are all creatures of nature, subject to its truths.
Part of the World: We are part of the natural forces of our world, not above them. It's folly to deny nature's power.
Equal but Separate Sexes: Male and female are equal parts of the human race, but separate, each fulfilling evolved functions.
Sex as Primary Division: The greatest division among humans is sex; race, creed, etc., are insignificant by comparison.
Devotion to Truth: The highest devotion is to truth; denying truth is foolish and damaging, causing discontent.
Harnessing Conflict: Conflict is natural; when understood and harnessed for the greater good, it drives growth.
Natural Efficiencies: Males are naturally more efficient in physical strength; females in emotional sensitivity, care, and nurture. Males protect and direct; females aid and care. Fulfillment comes from accepting one's nature.
Inherent Nature: All creatures naturally behave according to their inherent nature; to do otherwise is self-destructive.
Natural Social Structure: Society naturally stratifies; stronger/abler elements rise above less dominant ones. Artificial manipulation of this structure leads to less efficient and fulfilling societies.
Adherence to Canon: The Gorean societal model is based on John Norman's books. Anything not conforming to his basic guidelines cannot be considered "Gorean."
V. The Gorean Theory
This is the belief that modern humans retain genetic propensities from an ancestral past, actively manifesting in behaviors (e.g., male/male competition, sexual reproductive strategies). Understanding and fulfilling these propensities, rather than repressing them, can reduce stress and lead to a more fulfilled life.
VI. The Gorean Philosophy (Holistic Definition)
The overarching message of the Gor books is summarized as: "Know who you are, be what you are, and do not be afraid to acknowledge what makes you tick. Strive to work with nature, rather than against it. Be proud of your accomplishments, work to improve yourself and to serve the citizens of your polis, and live boldly, with no regrets and as little guilt and insecurity as possible. And above all, acknowledge your weaknesses as well as your strengths... admit what you are, and simply be it to the best of your ability."
Key behaviors stemming from this:
Be WHAT you are: Appreciate and abide by one's unique singularity (man is man, woman is woman), recognizing specific masculine and feminine needs.
Be WHO you are: Acknowledge innate talents and a balance between desire for freedom and an innate slave nature. Those with a strong desire for freedom will not suffer slavery; those with a strong slave nature will submit.
Obey the Natural Order: Futileness in disregarding evolution. Stronger, more intelligent, more ambitious humans naturally dominate. Males are predisposed to physical dominance/control; females to aid/serve, using emotional empathy.
Advancement of the Strong: Strength (physical, mental, will) should be celebrated to advance the human race.
Diminishment of Weakness: Weaker/less adaptive elements should be controlled or encouraged to grow. Warfare and enforced captivity can achieve this (e.g., confining anti-social elements).
Do What You Will: Strive for self-fulfillment within existence's limits; every Gorean is expected to strive for perfection within societal structure. There are always possibilities for advancement.
Responsibility for Actions: Everyone chooses their destiny and is responsible for consequences. Excuses are futile. Gorean "cruelty" is practicality; "what does not kill them makes them stronger." If one is a slave, it's because they were weak, needed to be, or erred.
Stratification by Natural Process: Dominance manifests naturally based on strength (will, body, mind), independent of gender. There are no "dominance/submission genes," only propensities that can be circumvented at a cost. If one can dominate, they will, even against genetic leanings. Conflict between dominance and sexual selection behaviors leads to psychological/physical illness.
VII. Ideal Qualities in a Gorean Male
Strength (physical/mental), Intelligence, Adaptability, Tenaciousness, Courage, Honesty, Endurance (physical/mental), Understanding/Willingness to maintain natural order, Self-sacrifice for natural order, Suspicion towards alien (replaced by devotion to worthy), Pragmatism (accept truth over agenda), Love of life (live boldly, no regrets), Refusal to bow before the weaker.
"Morality" (cultural/religious rules) is distinct from ideal Gorean character. One can be a "brute" and still fit the archetype if they embody these traits.
VIII. Gorean Beliefs and a Definition of the Gorean Character
The definitive source is John Norman's writings.
Emotional Honesty: Goreans express emotions openly without shame (unlike Earth's hypocrisy of constraint).
City as Living Entity: A city is more than structures; it's a living entity with history, tradition, and character, less perishable than individuals.
Pride in Identity: Proud of their affiliations (city, caste, insignia); outlaws lack this.
Workmanship: Take great care in building and craftsmanship, expecting longevity.
No Pity: Pity humiliates both parties; Goreans love, but do not pity.
Race vs. Identity: Little sensitivity to race; great sensitivity to language, city, and caste.
Master-Slave Dynamics: Masters are strict but seldom sadistic/wantonly cruel. Celebrate beauty. Understand slaves are property, but may be intelligent. Women understand submission.
Life Enjoyment vs. Duty: Average Gorean values life's joys more than duties.
Challenge & Vitality: Compelled to challenge themselves against beauty and danger. Women carry themselves with vitality.
Morality: Gorean morality is of "masters" (inequalities, conquest, defiance, honor, courage, hardness, strength), contrasting with Earth's (equality, humility, pleasantness, tenderness, pity, gentleness). Guilt is almost unknown.
Unity of Will: Supreme power in undivided Gorean will.
Identity & Pride from Caste: Caste structure provides identity, pride, allies, and opportunities.
Aesthetic Sense: Exhibit good taste and aesthetic sense in language, architecture, dress, culture.
Female Nature: Men look at women like "stripping them and putting them to their feet." Women understand submission and female slavery's reality. Men want "everything" from women.
Earned Citizenship: Citizenship is earned, not by birth, through examinations and citizen vouching.
Intense Personal Experience: Experience life intensely; view world as alive, a friend.
Honor: Paramount, more important than riches.
Children: Fond of children; seldom hurt them. Slave children are given much freedom until adulthood.
Pretense & Nature: Less tolerant of pretense. Civilization should be predicated on fulfilling human nature, not denying it. "Yes" is the first word a Gorean baby learns.
Individuality: Men do not "herd" like Earthlings; highly individualistic.
No Sexual Naivete/Repression: Do not celebrate sexual naivete or repression; appreciate sexual maturity and experience.
Masculinity/Femininity: Value masculinity in men, femininity in women; refuse to repress either.
Optimism: Mindset of ambition, freshness, hope.
Home Stone Perspective: Measure world from inside out (Home Stone as center).
Purposeful Cruelty: Cruelty serves a purpose (e.g., bringing men to manhood, teaching slavery).
Limited Warfare: Do not embrace modern, wholesale warfare.
Male Slaves: Impatient with male slaves who serve women.
Artistic Vision: Artists are vessels for the world's expression, not vain about personal talent.
Order & Division: Society depends on divisions and order; not everyone is the same.
No Denial of Nature: Do not prevent others from being what nature created them to be.
Truth & Honesty: Take honor and truth seriously; difficult to fool more than once. Lying is disliked.
Against Misinterpretations (Counter-Arguments against totalitarianism/misogyny):
Against Totalitarianism/Conformity: Norman's work argues against species unification and forced equality, seeing it as "madness" that reduces the strong. It champions diversity and natural hierarchy.
Against Misogyny: Norman describes "Human females as rich and wonderful creatures," emphasizing their "subtle, complex and deep" sexual life and feelings, their beauty, intelligence, and needfulness. He speaks of the "dimensions of a woman's love" and "horizons of her heart."
Marcus concludes by urging readers to "READ THE DAMN BOOKS. ALL OF THEM." before forming judgments, emphasizing that truth must be earned through effort.
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