Once again Artemis' psychiatrist was reading notes and he looked up as his patient sat down. Deciding against wasting his time, Artemis began.
"I have an answer to your question." He allowed a hint of smugness to enter his voice.
The psychiatrist raised an enquiring eyebrow.
"You would explain to the psychopath that empathy is something fundamental to the human experience and that without it he or she would never be able to belong in a meaningful sense. Without an insight into other people's perceptions and experiences there is no way to connect."
The psychiatrist snorted. "I'm offended that you think so little of me. That's the answer you think I want to hear. You could have at least given me the answer I expected to hear."
Artemis smiled. "You mean, that the insight gained by empathy better allows manipulation of those around you?" He asked innocently.
"Yes, that one." The doctor paused. "Then again you probably saw the flaw in that answer.
This time Artemis snorted. "Of course I did. Most psychopaths find it easy enough to manipulate others regardless of empathy. Now you're offending me."
"We're even then," the psychiatrist announced.
Hardly, Artemis thought.
"So what's your answer?" Artemis enquired.
The doctor didn't fall into the trap and draw attention to his patient's obvious evasion. Artemis was grudgingly impressed. It was very professional and showed that he had larger concerns than simply 'winning'.
"I have had a long time to consider the answer," the doctor begun.
"If you're trying to be consolatory, don't bother. It does not suit either of us."
The doctor smiled. "Very well. I would explain that empathy is necessary for people to work together. The group can achieve far more than the individual."
"I assume you see the flaw in that argument." It was not a question.
"Logic as a substitute for empathy? Or perhaps money to encourage cooperation?" The psychiatrist asked.
"The former," Artemis clarified.
"So in your scenario a group of individuals decide that it would be mutually beneficial to undertake a certain course of action. The logical conclusion is that they work together."
Artemis nodded, however he was already seeing the problem.
"Without empathy each individual would work to their best advantage. This would slow their project and perhaps even compromise it," the psychiatrist said.
Artemis thought for a moment. "That would happen only if their baser instincts, such as greed, overrode their logic."
"Ah, but it only takes one individual to decide that they can get away with doing less or receiving more in order to undermine the project. They could come to this decision based purely on logic. However if empathy were the driving force, the greater good would be served and all individuals would benefit."
Artemis allowed a measure of disdain to enter his gaze. "Your argument is based on altruistic empathy across all these people. Humans aren't like that."
The doctor smiled again, Artemis was beginning to find the expression disquieting. This was because that particular expression usually heralded a point that undermined his argument. "I agree with you completely, people aren't like that. They tend to be as empathetic as far as it suits them. However, you are surely not arguing that all people are flawlessly logical?"
Artemis allowed his own smile. "I see. People contain a higher level of innate empathy than innate logic. Also, you suggest a small amount of empathy far surpasses the contribution of a small amount of logic."
"Exactly, an individual would need flawless logic to over come their 'baser instincts' whereas a small amount of empathy would accomplish a similar task. It's a pleasure to work with someone who grasps things so quickly," the psychiatrist admitted.
Artemis frowned slightly. He was quite sure that the doctor meant it sincerely, but there was an edge of mockery to the phrase nonetheless.
It had occurred to Artemis that the psychiatrist was trying to make him appreciate empathy. If so, he was employing the most persuasive individual possible. In asking Artemis himself to defend the merits of empathy, it would encourage him to grant it more respect. However, Artemis felt that this was too simple an explanation. The psychiatrist knew that psychopathy was an incorrect diagnosis where Artemis was concerned.
At this point Artemis also realised that for the duration of their discussion, he had not once tried to destroy the psychiatrist. Was this the man's intent? He obviously knew the history behind the six school councillors that he had sent into early retirement. Artemis would have liked to think that fear was motivating the psychiatrist's behaviour, but Artemis was nothing if not realistic, and as such, he dismissed the idea. Distraction might be the goal, but fear was not the motivation.
When Artemis looked up he was unsurprised to see that the psychiatrist had gone back to his notes. However, he looked up when he felt Artemis' gaze on him.
"Thank you for leaving me to my thoughts," Artemis said. The psychiatrist was similarly unsurprised by this magnanimous offering.
"It was unlikely that you would wish to be disturbed and once again, it's your time and you may spend it in whatever manner you wish."
Pleased with the doctor's favourable assessment, Artemis decided to extend his own wry compliment. "It's a pleasure to work with someone who grasps things so quickly."
The psychiatrist snorted. "I'll wager it is."
There was pause as Artemis formulated a question. "Do you think of us as equals?"
He waited for the inevitable reversal where the psychiatrist would turn the same question to him.
"No," the psychiatrist replied.
A less controlled individual would have been outwardly surprised. Artemis opted to remain still for a few seconds instead. The psychiatrist had a faint smile on his face.
Artemis was unsure of the way in which the psychiatrist saw them as unequal. The man was arrogant, but was he going so far as to think himself above his patient, or was he merely accepting his limitations? Uncertainty was not something that Artemis experienced often, but it was never a pleasant sensation.
"You must realise that a question like that is extremely misleading," the psychiatrist finally continued.
"I realise that now, but at the time I was expecting a more straightforward answer."
"A more straightforward answer than 'no'?" The psychiatrist teased.
Artemis didn't glare.
The psychiatrist sighed. "You ask me poorly framed, broad questions because you expect me to answer in a certain way. Once again, I find myself vaguely insulted by your assumptions about me."
Artemis sighed and reluctantly asked, "how do you consider us unequal?"
"I'm surprised your pride allowed you to ask me that. In answer to your question, we are in a psychiatrist/patient relationship and that is necessarily unequal. I am also older and more experienced than you. You are also more intelligent than me – significantly so. In these ways we are unequal."
Artemis was surprised yet again. It was becoming a habit in this context. There was no hint of annoyance or any sort of reluctance in the doctor's tone when he confessed his last inequality. His tone was completely smooth.
"Put it this way," the doctor begun. Artemis focussed his attention.
"Equality is such a vague term. True equality can only come with being identical to another individual. If you persist in thinking about people in terms of who is your 'equal' you will only limit your perception of others. Uniqueness destroys equality."
Artemis pondered the psychiatrist's words. He could not deny that specialisation and experience gave the doctor a certain advantage. For once the notion of someone less intelligent than himself didn't stir up any minor feelings of contempt.
"That's about time for today, Artemis," the psychiatrist explained. He didn't look at any timepiece that Artemis could locate. Artemis nodded his agreement.
"A question for next week," the psychiatrist proposed.
Artemis was intrigued despite himself. "Yes?"
The psychiatrist escorted his patient to the door as he asked his question. "In getting back to our hypothetical psychopath, how would you define 'doing good'?"
Artemis turned at the threshold and gave the psychiatrist a Look. "Please don't tell me that I am your hypothetical psychopath and that you are trying to get me to be more reflective," he sighed.
The psychiatrist merely raised an eyebrow. "You really do expect the worst of people. If you keep insinuating things about me I just might become offended and refuse to treat you."
When Artemis left, he knew that he could use these accidental insults as a way to drive his psychiatrist away. But that would be cheating. He had a feeling that the good doctor knew this too.
Round two to the psychiatrist then. For now.