"The
Human Future"
("THF")
exists for the
purpose of creating
the best possible
human future. The
most
illustrative
and enlightened
descriptor of
"best
possible"
offered to date is
"most
moral".
Morality subsumes
the most noble and
divine human
attributes which
include awareness,
conscience,
perceptivity,
reason, and will.
THF is limited by the following
inception
conditions:
-
THF is non-profit,
non-political,
and secular.
-
THF
a primarily a
collection of
ideas, goals,
processes,
and purposes
-
THF's
primary methods
are training,
facilitating,
and
creating.
-
All
humans shall
have equal
access to THF's structures and methods based
upon equal and
uniform
assessment
practices.
The Human Future will be
determined by a very
small minority of
the human populace.
This minority will
not be politically,
religiously, or
economically
motivated, unless we
fail to create a
suitable minority of
moral protagonists.
THF offers a process
which enables people
to become moral
protagonists. The
task at hand is to
locate, motivate,
and lead those
individuals in the
attainment of a
higher moral state.
Higher
moral states are
characterized by
enhanced decision
making and more will
towards purpose.
Thus, individuals
who attain higher
moral states must
instruct, inculcate,
direct, guide, and
provoke others in
moral transition.
The
greatest challenge
in this task is
overcoming the
endemic cultural and
systemic genetic
weakness of the
species.
Our
genetic weaknesses
are derived from
necessary biological
adaptations which
were necessary for
our survival.
Lasciviousness,
greed, anger, and
indolence are prime
examples of systemic
genetic faults.
These are reflected
in and expanded by
numerous generalized
cultural faults,
such as hatred,
nationalism,
bigotry, sexism,
selfishness,
covetousness,
arrogance, and
insensitivity. To
overcome these
faults, we must
focus the will which
results from our
natural morality
towards reducing
their effects and
enhancing our
opposing positive
attributes.
We
have many genetic
and cultural
strengths which
serve to counteract
and occasionally
supersede our
weaknesses. Our
innate intelligence,
perception,
reasoning, moral
sense, and will MAY
overcome the most
pervasive negative
characteristics.
Social structures
may serve to enhance
and reinforce our
strengths by
contributing values
and beliefs which
support desirable
outcomes, by
teaching methods and
approaches which
produce desired
outcomes, and by
providing
opportunities and
resources which
maximize individual
potential. The
degree to which a
culture expects and
reinforces moral
behavior determines
the extent to which
it is produced.
Instead
of burdening
ourselves with the
woes of contemporary
cultures which have
little, if any,
moral basis, we must
focus on individual
morality until a
sufficient core of
moral protagonists
is developed. As the
process may restart
with any one moral
protagonist, it is
virtually
unstoppable. Even as
the structure grows,
each and every
protagonist remains
autonomous. The
result is analogous
to a starfish which
grows whole new
organisms if cut
into pieces. In
time, a new morality
based culture will
unfold.
This
culture will be
built upon a
foundation of truth,
reason, and purpose
with the underlying
expectation that all
its constituents
choose and behave
morally. The
greatest measure of
success for this
culture will be its
collective ability
to judge morality
and to generate will
towards purpose. Its
purpose will be to
maximize human
creativity,
awareness of truth,
and opportunity to
mature morally.
It
is both unnecessary
and vain to deal
with the specifics
of a more moral
culture. We must
increase our own
morality in order to
have a clearer
vision of this new
culture and we must
enhance our own
creativity before we
will be able to
engineer and manage
its implementation.
No matter what angle
we view the future
from, its creation
begins with each of
us NOW.
The
THF process is a
sub-set of the
"Moral
Transformation"
process originally
designed by Rich Van
Winkle. It was
developed in
parallel with the
"Creative
Transformation"
process of John
David Garcia. Both
have roots in the
"Omega
Transformation"
process defined by
Pierre Teilhard de
Chardin. It is a
cyclical
reintegration and
expansion of
intrinsic human
moral elements;
perception,
awareness,
conscience,
consciousness,
reason, and will and
a social
reinforcement
structure advancing
ethical methods,
noble values and
beliefs, and
emotional control.
The process is not
demanding
intellectually, has
no
"rituals",
and few
prerequisites. If
completed, the
process will ALWAYS
fulfill its purpose.
The major barrier to
completion is
adequate commitment
to morality (esp.
the whole truth).
In order to assure that the
human future moves
towards worthier
results we must
assume
responsibility for
creating physical,
biological, social,
and spiritual
structures which
provide maximum
opportunity for
individual and
collective growth
while minimizing the
potential for
destructiveness.
The
process by which we
create these
structures
integrates the most
positive human
attributes with a
clearly articulated
unifying purpose.
Using the most
evolved methods and
strategies available
and new ones which
must be created,
humans must
cooperate
synergistically with
each other and
symbiotically with
all life in the
ecosystem.
The
holistic human
concept of
perfection may serve
as a beacon towards
the most
enlightening
purpose. The
grandest goal is to
create a universe
better than the one
created for us. The
measures for success
are ordered and
interwoven...
To maximize
creative potential
and outcome
To maximize truth
and awareness
To maximize
beauty and
inspiration
To maximize
joy and justice
As
structures and
systems are created
with the intent of
fulfilling human
purpose, we must use
our perceptual
abilities and
extensions thereof
to determine
actuality or
objectiveness.
Reasoning must serve
to compare our
results with our
expectations and to
ascertain required
alterations
(feedback).
This
treatise will
specify one of many
possible paths
towards a more
survivable and more
purposeful human
future. This path
was derived by
examining,
evaluating, and
extending
evolutionary
outcomes in order to
establish the
purpose of human
existence and the
means to fulfill it.
No attempt to defend
or support this
process is included
as such has been
done in prior works.
My hope is that the
truth of this will
be obvious to many,
intuitively correct
to all, and accepted
by enough.
Evolution: Evolution is the
primary
manifestation of
ultimate creation
(Godliness) in our
universe. The human
species is the local
culmination of the
creative effects of
evolution. It is
this effect which
causes localized
short term exception
to the second law of
thermodynamics
(entropy must
prevail). In
essence, the result
of this effect is
the sacrifice of
long term local (our
solar system?)
energy towards short
term (a billion
years?) advancement
of ordered
complexity.
The
human species has
achieved two or more
quantum levels of
ordered complexity
above other beings
in its surroundings.
The tremendous price
in ecological damage
and risk is
compensated for in
the fantastic
creative potential
which has resulted.
Given the
exponential increase
in damage and risk,
the time available
for recursion may be
very short
(.1-10,000 years?).
The human future
depends upon human
creative
intervention in the
evolutionary
process.
Human
creativity is the
natural extension of
those forces and
features which we
are able to predict
and control.
However, unless such
creativity is
directed towards
survival and growth,
we will stagnate and
die. We are capable
of creating our own
future and indeed,
we must. The forces
which oppose
evolution (entropy)
increase
concurrently with
quantum evolutionary
change and require
increasing
intelligent will to
control. Failure to
extend adequate
control of those
forces could easily
result in
catastrophic
evolutionary
consequences. (Such
as the extinction of
a species?)
Evolution
is most easily
measured as the
increase in ordered
complexity within
any system.
"Ordered",
thus used, implies
function towards
purpose. To gauge
orderedness, we must
identify the purpose
of ordering and
relate the outcome
of the orderedness
to the fulfillment
of purpose. If we
can reproduce and
verify the perceived
relation through
instrumentation, we
have
"objectified"
the relationship. If
we believe that the
relation exists
because of intuition
or reason, then it
is a
"subjective"
relationship.
(The
scientific process
serves to objectify
subjective
relationships. It is
not the only process
which does such, and
because our
instrumentation
limits its
application, it is
not comprehensive.)
As
we identify and
extend the primary
outcomes of
evolution, we may
summarize the
progression as
follows...
Creation>>>
Energy>>>
Matter>>>
Molecular
Systems>>>
Life>>> Thought>>>
Reflective
Thought>>>
Moral
Thought>>>
Moral
Behavior>>>
Creation
Within
the scope of our
awareness (objective
and subjective) the
greatest creative
act and outcome is
the universe.
Because the creation
of another universe
with the same
cyclical progression
identified above
starts a new
"loop",
the process may be
described as
reproductive and
continuous. At the
current state of
human awareness,
such an act seems
incredibly complex
and powerful (rather
like a nuclear bomb
might seem to a
Roman of 200 B.C.)
Evolution
will yield beings
capable of grasping
and controlling
evolution. This is
necessary because a
threshold or barrier
exists in the
evolution/entropy
continuum which
prevents
"natural"
evolution from
progressing without
conscious willful
intervention.
Unfortunately, the
very process which
produces conscious
willful beings
inherently produces
tangential effects
which compound the
odds against their
success. There may
even be intrinsic
processes (like
cortical rejection)
which only allow one
type of conscious
willful being in any
ecosystem and only
one opportunity for
"transformation"
to a secure
evolutionary level.
Transformation
processes occur at
determinate levels
in the evolutionary
continuum. Once
energy reaches a
determinate level of
ordered complexity,
matter appears. Once
matter reaches a
determinate level,
molecular systems
(i.e. crystals)
appear; molecular
systems produce
life, life produces
thought, and thought
produces awareness
of awareness. An
adequate level of
ordered complexity
in awareness of
awareness produces
moral awareness
which may yield
moral behavior. Each
of these
transformations
occur as an
intrinsic result of
the
"natural"
increase in ordered
complexity which is
caused by
evolutionary
pressure.
The
human future is
dependent upon the
accomplishment of
the next
transformation
process prior to the
"accidental"
destruction of its
supporting
structures, the
ecosystem and moral
awareness. We now
understand the
process of
transformation and
its prerequisites.
We have the
potential to create
this revolutionary
evolutionary event,
if we choose to do
such.
Entropy:
To
grasp the meaning of
entropy, it is
useful to consider
one of its most
observable and
pervasive
manifestations,
death. We know and
understand death. We
fear it, we regret
it, and we welcome
it. For without
death, none of us
would exist or could
exist. Entropy is as
critical to
evolution as death
is to life.
The
transition to chaos
parallels the
transition to
orderedness. The
difference is
simple, entropy
always prevails on
the larger scale
over the longer time
span. Evolutionary
success is a
temporary localized
condition. The
future is determined
by the continuous
interaction of
evolutionary and
entropic
"forces"
as characterized by
the natural forces
and features which
we study in physics
and biology. Given
no other factors,
the short term
destiny of any
system is rather
predictable.
As
evolution succeeds
in establishing its
small short term
transformations,
dramatic changes in
"destiny"
occur. By the time
evolution achieves
beings who are aware
of evolution, direct
intervention in
destiny is possible
and common. Human
"will"
circumvents natural
forces and causes an
instability and
unpredictability in
the
"natural"
order of the
ecosystem. Unless
human will supports
the expansion of
ordered complexity
in conjunction with
natural evolutionary
forces, great damage
is likely.
Currently,
on the whole, the
human species is not
supporting
evolution. In the
balance of human
good and human
destruction, entropy
is
"winning".
Unless we expand and
extend our potential
to do
"good", we
will consume our
opportunity to
achieve the level of
awareness required
to fulfill our
destiny. As we
increase our
technical skills
without directing
the result towards
moral purpose, we
simply accelerate
our destructiveness.
We rely on our
technology to
correct destruction
(or risk of
destruction) caused
by our misdirected
technology; a cycle
which can only lead
to ultimate
disaster.
(This
should not imply
that technology is
to blame or is
inherently
destructive.
Technology is a
needed extension of
human potential, IF
directed towards
moral ends.)
To
move in harmony with
natural evolution,
we must understand
and compensate for
the effects of
entropy.
Will:
As evolutionary transformations
occur, a primary
result is
"will".
Will is generally
understood
subjectively, but
has totally eluded
objectification.
Will occurs during
each quantum
transformation
described before.
The most apparent
examples are:
Energy>>>Matter
- Will to coalesce
Matter>>>
Molecular Systems -
Will to reproduce
Molecular
Systems>>>
Life - Will to
survive
Life>>>
Thought - Will to
sacrifice
Thought>>>
Reflective Thought -
Will to advance
Reflective
Thought>>>
Moral Thought - Will
to create
Each
advancement in type
of will also
produces quantum
changes in levels of
available will.
Humans manifest each
of the above types
of will to various
levels. We
demonstrate our will
to sacrifice in our
investment of time,
energy, and
resources in our
children and fellow
humans. We
demonstrate our will
to advance in the
investment of time,
energy, and
resources in
"pure
research" which
offers no immediate
tangible outcome. We
demonstrate our will
to create in the
time, energy, and
resources we invest
in the creation of
structures and
systems which
produce moral
outcomes (actually
very rare).
Our
ability to grasp
future possibilities
and the natural
forces and features
which cause future
events or
circumstance, gives
us the awareness of
our own ability to
alter the future.
All humans
constantly will
short term
insignificant events
into reality (esp.
our own behavior).
Sometimes, we are
effective at willing
behavior which
causes longer term
significant events.
Those who approach
or transcend the
threshold of moral
thought have access
to far more
effective will and
greater amounts of
will to cause long
term significant
events. This does
not mean that those
individuals utilize
that will.
The
rudimentary function
of human
"mind" is
the creation and
focusing of will.
The essential
evolutionary
adaptation is to
focus that will on
worthwhile purpose.
Individual and
cultural flaws
(resulting from
entropic forces)
greatly diminish
access to and
focusing of will
while distorting
recognition of
purpose. Unless we
succeed in removing
those flaws, we will
destroy our
potential to create
a more moral future,
thus reducing our
ability to identify
and remove
individual and
cultural flaws. This
powerful and
prevalent
"spiral"
is clearly evident
and growing.
Structures:
To break free from the pull of
this entropic spiral
and assure that the
human future moves
towards worthier
outcomes, we must
create or improve
structures
which provide
opportunity for
individual growth.
These structures
range from thinking
processes to
governments. While
creating these new
structures, we must
minimize the
potential which many
current structures
have for
destructiveness. The
task is neither
simple or easy,
although every
requirement is well
within current human
potential and
experience.
The
starting point is
within the
individual. The
quality of the
structures we create
is limited by the
quality of the
individuals who
design and operate
them. The starting
point for the human
future is within the
individual (no
surprise there!).
Those who are
capable of designing
and operating
structures which
contribute to
individual growth of
moral potential MUST
do so immediately
and invest time,
energy, and
resources in their
completion and
expansion. Those who
wish to participate
in the human future
must join with
others of similar
mind and purpose to
improve their
internal structures
while more capable
supporting
structures are
developed.
The
supporting
structures have
existed for many
years (books,
libraries, schools,
etc.) will only
fulfill the desired
purpose when the
individual is
capable of utilizing
them correctly.
Unfortunately, there
are no current
structures which
teach humans how to
best utilize
available resources
for moral gain. The
needed individual
structures have long
been acknowledged as
the most positive
human attributes (by
the Greeks over 2000
years ago and during
the Renaissance).
They include
reasoning and logic,
communication,
perception, self
discipline,
emotional control,
and awareness
enhancement. In
developing most of
these attributes,
the eastern
religions are far
more advanced than
western.
Methods:
The process of creating the
human future begins
with a clearly
articulated unifying
purpose. It is not
necessary that the
whole of humanity
begin with such
purpose, but it is
possible and
desirable. The
immediate need is
for cooperative
groups to accept a
single omnipotent
purpose which lies
directly in line
with the
evolutionary path
(towards morality).
Education
Example:
"To
create and foster a
love of
learning"
Parenting
Example:
"To
build a growing,
trusting
relationship"
Judicial
Example :
"To seek
the truth and
administer
justice"
Religious
Example:
"To seek
perfection in the
likeness of the
creator"
Humans
have an innate sense
of what perfection
is and whether or
not they are seeking
it. This holistic
human concept of
perfection may serve
as a beacon towards
the most
enlightening and
advantageous
purpose. The closer
the purpose is to
the immediate task,
the easier it is to
measure behavior in
relationship to it.
However, it is
critical that we
identify and accept
more noble
and lofty purpose.
The grandest
tangible goal is to
create a universe
better than the one
in which we exist.
Creating
structures and
systems with the
intent of fulfilling
human purpose is not
enough. We must
insure that those
structures continue
evolving and that
they indeed
accomplish their
purpose. The process
of comparing result
with expectation
(feedback) is one of
the most evolved and
successful methods
known. It's
application in the
design and
implementation of
supporting
structures is
imperative.
In
order to properly
utilize feedback, we
must use our
perceptual abilities
and extensions
thereof to determine
actuality or
objectiveness. Where
outcomes are not
measurable through
instrumentation, we
must devise quick
and effective
subjective
indicators (tests)
which prioritize
methods.
Reason
must rule supreme
when we compare our
results with our
expectations and
ascertain required
alterations.
The
most successful
structures will be
those which rely on
human judgment;
thus, rules are
avoided and
guidelines are
offered. Having to
make ethical
decisions and apply
feedback to them is
the most important
human exercise.
Developing good
guidelines becomes
one of the most
creative aspects in
designing and
implementing
supporting
structures.
Education
Example:
"Listening
lasts least. Action
abides always"
Parenting
Example:
"Actions
speak louder than
words
Judicial
Example :
"An
injustice anywhere
is a threat to
justice everywhere"
Religious
Example:
"Do onto
others as you would
have them do onto
you"
Measures:
A standard or scale is required
for measuring the
success of
supporting
structures. The
measures for success
are ordered and
interwoven...
1. To
maximize creative
potential and
outcome:
Individual
and collective
creative potential
is measured by the
ability to
predict and control
the total (physical,
biological, psycho-social, and spiritual)
environment.
Creative outcome is measured
by the extent to
which creative
potential is
directed
towards moral
purpose.
2. To
maximize truth and
awareness:
Total
truth is measured by
the product of
accurate meaningful information
available to beings
capable of using it
to maximize creative potential and
outcome. Total
awareness is
measured by
the extent to which
accumulated
perceptual
experience
contributes to
creative potential
and outcome.
3. To
maximize beauty and
inspiration:
Beauty
and inspiration are
perceived, but not
measured. Both
serve to
increase creative
potential and
outcome.
4. To
maximize joy and
justice
Joy
is the subjective
perception of
fulfillment of
purpose.
(One can be
unhappy and joyful
about the same
situation). Justice
is state of
appropriate
opportunity,
contribution,
and reward
and is measured by
the security and
trust provided by a structure.
The
development of
measuring systems
and structures is
one of the most
critical aspects in
assuring the success
of the human future.
Many possibilities
exist for measuring
success in both
objective and
subjective domains.
Our priorities will
be most apparent in
what we measure.
Cooperation:
The
human future will
not be created by
any one person or
any small group of
humans. It must be
continually
recreated by humans
who cooperate
synergistically with
each other and
symbiotically with
all life in the
ecosystem.
Each
human individual has
equal moral
potential when
provided with equal
moral opportunity.
Through cooperation
towards common
purpose, we can
maximize moral
opportunity and
provide justice for
all. So long as we
assume dominion over
other beings, we
also assume
responsibility for
maximizing their
moral potential.
Most other animals
have far greater
moral potential than
we credit them with
and may contribute
to our own moral
potential in ways
we've yet to
perceive.
The
Earth is our mother,
our home, and our
future. If the Earth
prospers, then so do
we; and vice-versa.
If we view our
relationship with
the Earth and its
life as one of
cooperation, all
will benefit.
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