The Gates of Janus

1. Morality and Legality are Tools of the Powerful

Morality and legality are decided chiefly by the prevailing ruling class in whatever geographical variant, not least because a collective morality is too unwieldy and difficult to maintain.

Rules serve the elite. The author argues that laws and moral codes are not divinely ordained or universally agreed upon, but are created and enforced by those in power to maintain their status and control. This system often benefits the wealthy and influential, who are adept at circumventing the very rules they impose on others.

• Corporate crime often goes unpunished despite costing economies more than blue-collar crime.
• Politicians rarely advocate for harsher penalties for white-collar criminals.

Conformity is passive. Most people adhere to these rules out of self-interest, fear of punishment, or intellectual laziness, rather than genuine moral conviction. This passive acceptance allows the ruling minority to dictate norms and exploit the majority.

Laws deny individual nature. Laws often attempt to suppress the intrinsic dynamic nature of the individual, leading to conflict. The author suggests that laws based on universal usefulness and honor are superior to those based on immediate expediency or political gain.

2. The Criminal as the Authentic Outsider

Dissension demands energy and dangerous commitment.

Challenging the norm. The author posits that criminals, unlike the conforming masses, possess the energy and will to challenge the established order and pursue their desires outside of conventional boundaries. They are "outsiders" who refuse to be stifled by mediocrity.

Independent thought. Professional criminals, through opposition, may understand morality and ethics better than those who simply accept them. They observe the unscrupulous standards of "pillars of society" and adapt their values accordingly, becoming players in a ruthless game.

Seeking forbidden territory. The criminal is stimulated by stepping into forbidden territory, consciously seeking experiences the majority dare not. This pursuit of the "crooked" is seen as a reflection of unconditioned human nature, which abhors right angles and regimentation.

3. Good and Evil are Relative and Interdependent

Naturally the polarised values of good and evil constitute a paradoxical, interde-pendent unity, an indivisible entity of internally opposing tensions which constitute the vital essence of life: contrast and variety.

A matter of perspective. Good and evil are not absolute but are relative concepts, often defined by geography, fashion, and the prevailing power structure. What is considered virtuous in one context may be criminal in another.

Internal conflict. Individuals constantly fluctuate between good and evil, with social conditioning playing a major role in regulating behavior. Even those who appear virtuous may harbor covert criminal tendencies or derive pleasure from the misfortune of others.

Beyond simple labels. The author suggests that true understanding requires a relativistic viewpoint, examining legality and illegality metaphysically, devoid of religious connotations. He argues that only the insane are unaware when their actions conflict with their true beliefs, as opposed to socially conditioned responses.

4. Serial Killing: A Quest for Power and Meaning

The hunt for the chimerical key to knowledge, life, power or the ultimate sensation becomes a never-to-be-satisfied addiction.

Imposing personal meaning. Serial killers, having confronted the perceived chaos or absurdity of existence, attempt to impose their own meaning and order through acts of destruction. They become "gods in their own kingdom," sampling forbidden acts and eventually taking lives to define their new powers.

Beyond the mundane. Driven by a profound sense of boredom and the futility of ordinary life, the killer craves excitement and vibrant meaning. Indifference and ubiquitous mediocrity provoke them to action, to prove their existence beyond external control.

An act of creation. In this metaphysical context, destruction can be seen as an act of creation, an "act of God." The killer's acts are a product of intellect as much as passion, seeking a form of immortality or a sense of personal destiny through their crimes.

5. Understanding the Killer's Psychology

The serial killer and the detective, to a significant extent, necessarily share many characteristics, including a common unorthodox philosophy in tandem with solitary dedication and commitment.

Shared traits. The author posits that serial killers and effective detectives share many traits, such as ruthlessness, astuteness in deceit, clear strategy, and a grasp of moral relativism. Both must understand the "abnormal" thought processes of their quarry.

Typologies and patterns. Killers can be broadly categorized as psychopathic (organized, controlled, manipulative) or psychotic (volatile, disorganized, delusional). Crime scene analysis, modus operandi, and personality prints help identify the killer's type and potential patterns.

• Psychopaths: Plan carefully, use restraints, hide bodies, take trophies.
• Psychotics: Erratic, disorganized, leave bodies unhidden, may have ritualistic elements.

Beyond the textbook. The high-IQ killer is complex and unpredictable, often resorting to pragmatic innovations. Understanding the killer's underlying fantasy and psychological state (e.g., schizophrenia, paranoia) is crucial for effective profiling.

6. Society's Complicity in Violence and Exploitation

Auschwitz, the fire-bombing of Dresden, the atomic holocausts of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the deluge of napalm rained upon Vietnam and all other examples of wholesale global slaughter throughout the ages were, and still are, performed under the tattered umbrella of legality.

Sanctioned atrocities. The author argues that state-sanctioned violence and exploitation far exceed the scale of individual criminal acts. Governments engage in wholesale slaughter (wars, bombings) and systemic injustice (private prisons, medical experiments on prisoners) under the guise of legality.

Hypocrisy of authority. Politicians and law enforcement officials often condemn individual criminals loudly while profiting from crime or engaging in corrupt practices themselves. This hypocrisy highlights the selective application of morality and legality based on power and wealth.

Mass destruction is acceptable. The arms industry exemplifies how mass destruction is acceptable to "respectable" people as long as they earn a living from it. The author points to historical examples like Nazi doctors and American judges who sanctioned atrocities legally, arguing that higher education does not equate to higher humanism.

7. The Media Fuels Morbid Fascination

The mass media, primarily for commercial reasons, understandably gives scant coverage to such embarrassing analytical statistics.

Exploiting crime for profit. The media, particularly tabloids, sensationalize crime, especially sex crimes, for financial gain. They exploit public fascination and sexual imperatives, reducing crime to a spectator sport and stimulating the very instincts they supposedly condemn.

Creating public hysteria. The media deliberately inflates public hysteria and panic regarding serial killers, often glamorizing them and disseminating their methods. This can potentially tempt others to emulate them, turning killers into icons of risk and individual action.

Selective focus. The media gives scant coverage to statistics showing that most murders are committed by family or friends, preferring to focus on the rare serial killer. This selective focus allows the public to indulge in self-righteous indignation and deflect guilt.

8. Trauma and Disillusionment Drive Revenge

Cumulative disillusionment and rancour in his case exacerbates the degree of post-traumatic stress, generating a fatalistic, unforgiving methodology of general revenge.

Paying back society. Many serial killers feel they have suffered a general defeat or personal affront at the hands of society, leading to a drive for revenge. They rationalize their behavior as paying back humanity for the wretched life inflicted upon them.

Broken homes and abuse. Childhood trauma, such as broken homes, neglect, or abuse (physical, psychological, sexual), is often a factor in the lives of criminals. This can breed resentment, inferiority complexes, and a desire to inflict similar suffering on others.

Disillusioned idealists. Some killers, like Ricardo Ramirez, may be disillusioned idealists who become resentful of perceived societal deception or hypocrisy. Their rage is directed at those they see as responsible for their past misery or deprivation.

9. The Pursuit of the Extraordinary Leads to Self-Destruction

The hunt for the chimerical key to knowledge, life, power or the ultimate sensation becomes a never-to-be-satisfied addiction.

Diminishing returns. The excitement and satisfaction derived from killing diminish with repetition, leading the killer to seek increasingly outrageous acts to recapture the initial thrill. This pursuit of the "unholy grail" is ultimately futile.

Routine breeds carelessness. As murder becomes a habit or recreation, routine sets in, decreasing the killer's alertness, innovation, and caution. This sloppiness often contributes to their capture.

Death wish. The realization that the search for ultimate satisfaction is doomed can lead to ennui and a subconscious death wish. Killers may become increasingly reckless, openly seeking capture or even attempting suicide.

10. The Unreliability of Self-Perception

Self-delusion is an almost inevitable consequence of life in the modern world, or perhaps even a necessity, to stave off encroaching madness or a collective lemming-like rush to the brink.

Deceiving self and others. Killers (and others) often deceive themselves about their true motives and nature. This self-deception can enhance their ability to deceive others, but it also creates internal conflict and distorts their judgment.

Playing a role. Some killers adopt a persona or act out a fantasy, becoming detached from reality. This can be a deliberate tactic (like feigning insanity) or a symptom of psychosis, making it difficult to discern their true state of mind.

Beyond simple labels. The author argues against simplistic psychological labels, suggesting that individuals are complex and often possess contradictory traits. True understanding requires looking beyond surface appearances and acknowledging the possibility of hidden agendas and internal struggles.

11. The Enduring Human Cost

My heart goes out to Mrs Ann West. Who will never and perhaps should never forgive them for their actions.

Suffering of families. The crimes of serial killers inflict immense and lasting suffering on the victims' families. This pain is often overlooked in the media's focus on the killer and the sensational aspects of the case.

Beyond the statistics. While the author focuses on the killer's psychology, the afterword starkly reminds the reader of the brutal reality for the victims and their loved ones. The search for missing bodies, the trauma of identifying remains, and the lifelong grief are the true consequences.

Exploitation of pain. The media and others involved in the case often exploit the suffering of the families for profit or publicity. This adds another layer of pain to their already unbearable loss.

Last updated: May 20, 2025