"HOMO RATIONALIS" AND HUMANIANITY

We have already seen the drastic changes brought about by the first two exponential changes (the development of language and the development of science/technology). But these new tools have simply been in the service of our basic animal nature. This basic animal nature, whatever we share with other higher animals, is a product of natural selection. Natural selection promotes survival of the species, but has nothing to do with "the good life," meaning simply as much joy, contentment, and appreciation as possible, and as little pain, suffering, disability, and early death (PSDED) as possible. Only by virtue of the first two exponential changes have we become able, for the first time, to undergo the third exponential change, the ability to rationally supervise ourselves and effectively guide ourselves away from PSDED-producing natural behavior toward behavior that promotes the good life.

But in order to promote this third exponential change, we have to understand it. Although it has already begun its acceleration, it is so early in its development that it is hard to see. It is only with great difficulty that we can imagine living in a wonderful new way that we have never experienced before. So, in order to accomplish this change in how we live, and thereby get rid of our human-induced PSDED, we have to study, learn, practice, and advocate. It is we that have to do it, not they. If we wait for them to do it, it will never happen.

So if you are ready to do your part, you will have to study. Doing so will be difficult, because you will have to see yourself, not as fully developed, but as just beginning to become much better, and thereby much more able to make the world a better place. You will have to cease being a victim of your culture and begin to take a stand against those aspects of your culture that promote PSDED. You will have to give up culturally-sanctioned avoidance of the questioning of your own beliefs. You will have to learn how to engage in friendly debate, and wish to do so, rather than ignoring difference of opinion and avoiding, ridiculing, attacking, and killing those who believe differently.

You were taught by your culture your basic outlook. You were taught that your way of government, your way of religion, your way of thinking, and your way of eating are the very best.

Your culture tells you that it is okay to be hostile, and that anger, revenge, and punishment are good. Your culture tells you that living is still the way of the wild, and that you should strive to dominate and win, or at least align yourself with those that do so successfully. Your culture tells you that the resulting PSDED is just a part of life and is for a higher cause. Your culture tells you that you don’t have to know how to rear children in order to do so, that punishing children is necessary, and that the production of broken adults and occasional monsters has nothing to do with clumsy, untrained, though extremely well-intentioned child rearing.

Your culture tells you that this is as good as it gets, and that it is okay to look the other way as you pass by inequity. Your culture tells you not to question its values or empathize with those who disagree.

But looking back at us from the future, "Homo rationalis" will be extremely grateful to you for your efforts, that have saved so many lives and have prevented so much pain, suffering, and disability, even though you will not see these results of your efforts in your lifetime. You can, however, see some of the results of your efforts within your sphere of influence, as you learn, and put into practice, those ethical principles that optimize the chances of producing the good life.

We need a "movement," primarily within our religions, that facilitates our maturation through openness of mind, rational ethics instead of authoritarian ethics, and benevolence toward all humans, good and bad.