Morality and Civilisation (Part of the Brighter Side of Civilisation and the Universe)

• Morality is not static: Drawing on the Durants, the post emphasises that moral codes evolve with civilisation and are context-dependent, suggesting our current morals might not be universal.

• Ideas are powerful: The Durants' perspective highlights the significant influence of ideas, particularly religious beliefs, in unifying and potentially fragmenting societies.

• Transmitting civilisation is crucial: The post underscores the importance of consciously passing on knowledge, art, and ethics to prevent societal regression.

• Humanity's quest for deeper truths: Beyond societal structures, humans have an inherent urge to understand fundamental questions about the universe, existence, and reality.

• Multiple perspectives on the meaning of life: The post offers philosophical, historical, and scientific viewpoints on the meaning of life, emphasizing self-preservation, community, and the pursuit of knowledge.

• The double-edged sword of technological advancement: While technology offers progress, it also presents challenges like the potential for AI to outsmart us and the unpredictability of universal developments.

• Space exploration as a unifying force: The post suggests that space exploration can drive scientific breakthroughs, expand consciousness, foster global unity, and redefine our place in the universe.

• The potential for a better future: The author envisions a future where humanity leverages its potential ethically, sustains the environment, expands consciousness, and potentially explores the stars.

• The enduring relevance of philosophy and history: The wisdom of these fields is crucial for navigating the future and understanding the power of connection and empathy.

• Morality in the digital age: The post discusses the complexities of morality in an increasingly connected world, including the potential for isolation and the importance of genuine connection.

• The morality of space exploration: The author posits that space exploration is moral if it inspires hope, expands human understanding, and serves the survival and betterment of the species.

• Nietzsche's perspective on morality: The post introduces the concepts of "Master" and "Slave" morality as different drivers of behaviour.

• The importance of values: Humility, modesty, charity, forgiveness, and kindness are highlighted as positive values.

• Morality as a foundation for progress: Upholding positive ideas and values is essential for individual growth, societal advancement, and creating a thriving environment for future generations.

• The need for unity and wisdom in a diverse world: Despite differing national moral codes, the pursuit of realization, creativity, and development necessitates unity and wisdom in addressing global challenges.

Morality throughout history has been marked by humanity's longing to discern what is right and what is wrong. According to Morals in Will and Ariel Durant's The History of Civilisation, morals evolve with the stages of civilisation. They argue that moral codes are not universal but are tailored to maintain social order within specific cultural and economic contexts. This observation invites reflection on contemporary moral debates, suggesting that what we deem moral today might not hold in different historical or future settings. This is similar to how religion struggles to adapt to the current world and youth. However, the role it has played in history, education, and sustaining nations is an undeniable part of the fabric of societies that produce innovations and technological advancements today.

For the Durants, ideas are the most potent forces in history. They explore how religious beliefs have historically unified societies, but also how the decline in religious faith can lead to societal fragmentation, challenging the notion that political parties are the primary source of disparities in societies. This raises questions about the future of secular societies and the role of belief systems in maintaining cultural cohesion.

Perhaps the most poignant lesson from the Durants is the importance of transmitting civilisation. They warn that without a conscious effort to pass on knowledge, art, and ethics, humanity could revert to barbarism. This call to action is a reminder for contemporary society to invest in education, culture, and the preservation of historical wisdom.

While the above has provided universal wisdom for many decades, it does not necessarily showcase humanity's urge to reach for larger truths connected not only to the creation of civilisation but to the creation of our solar system, and ultimately, the universe. These are the fundamental laws that govern our behaviour and how things move. Knowledge and experience are two important qubits in this quest. The enduring questions connected to the existence of God and what lies beyond a black hole, whether there are other preservable realities beyond what the human mind can capture and bring into our notion of real life, continue to drive people to see further, to understand the ultimate aim of our quest.

Philosophically, the meaning of life can be seen in preserving our own selves; historically, it lies in the importance of preserving communities; scientifically, it is to answer as many questions as possible and reach out beyond our own selves and beyond our own societies. This pursuit of understanding is the brighter side of civilisation – to live outside given stereotypes.

While we might be able to trace the movement from the first particle to the development of life and the universe, we have also reached such an advanced stage of human population and technological advancement that we have created tools with the potential to outsmart us. Considering this, the unpredictability of universal development, whether time is linear, or whether we will collide with another galaxy, may lead to entirely different trajectories. Yet, it is also a brighter side of civilisation to be able to explore the broader aspects of the universal mind and have such potential in our hands that the concept of a divine mind and everything once thought inescapable, including the life cycle of our and every star (what some might call living towards death), can all be questioned until answers are found.

Is space moral, to explore other planets and venture into the vastness? If human spaceflight brings inspiration, hope, and resilience, if it teaches and expands humanity's understanding beyond our current understanding, then we may deem this journey to the stars and other planets worthwhile. We may continue to send technology, but what if we find new homes on those distant worlds? We might frame it as a matter of choices. All the people who have been or are in space have undergone rigorous training to be more connected to science, more aware of the vastness of the cosmos, and thus often more longing for our planet and for normal human interactions. Based on the moral compass that guides them, our primary goal of survival as a species takes precedence. Secondly, there may be extraordinary achievements by individuals in space, such as the violin scene from the "Polaris Dawn" mission, showcasing human experiences. Earth itself remains as beautiful as ever.

We might consider focusing on our children, giving them access to knowledge, the right to speak, explore, find their way, be proactive, and successful. Morals are not just the values we uphold but also our social security, networking, what we say, what we do, what we think, and how we live, knowing that not everything we encounter is moral and right, but that we can preserve ourselves if we understand the power of what we build. I may be one of eight billion people, and when I stop thinking of myself as uniquely important, I can free myself to consider ways to improve, give more, and be among those who love learning, strive for improvement, offer respect, and cultivate fertile ground for new ideas and innovative morals for today.

Thoughts for future blogs include the idea that the era of scientific space exploration has seen breakthroughs in physics, biology, and psychology, driven by the need to adapt to extraterrestrial conditions or communicate with potential extraterrestrial intelligence. The exploration of the universe has expanded human consciousness. Encountering new environments and potentially other life forms (or their remnants) has deepened our philosophical and cultural narratives, leading to a more interconnected, empathetic global society. This expansion has also prompted a reevaluation of our place in space, fostering a more profound sense of unity and purpose.

The vastness of space and the common goals of exploration have, in most scenarios, united humanity in ways that terrestrial conflicts could not.

Can you imagine a world where such ideas are born, while simultaneously being able to move things faster and more effectively in terms of forms, regulations, and decisions regarding the safety, production, and reproduction of humans? A world where we can utilize our truest potentials while ensuring the long-term health of the environment, where we can teach other humans to see and expand their scale of consciousness, and potentially send them among the stars to observe, research, and inspire Earth's creatures. Such a world is probable, and probability implies possibility.

How do we sustain the power of the laws of philosophy and the political historical wisdom of overcoming others? This seemingly determined destiny looms large, but only until we realise the power of the mind, the power of a touch over the power of a gun, the power of love, and the voice of loving creatures trying to save Earth and the universe by creating powerhouses inside and outside their minds that unlock creativity for greater human innovation. Consider the power of tension between two individuals who decide to unite and create an explosion of luminous energy around them. They find this connection so profound that they know it is the only way to save us, and they strive to make it visible and accessible to all. They hope that if a simple hug still holds meaning in this world, then nothing is truly lost, and this vision of resilience, now extending beyond individual perception, has entered our Earth in a way that hope, magic, and belief never disappear.

Morality Today

Morals today are equally important, evolving alongside technology. We are more exposed to the world than ever before. While this brings opportunities, it also creates fertile ground for more fraud and behaviours that we might rationalize as right but enable attacks, violence, and bullying. This is even more evident knowing that each and every one of us is more connected. The connection between the physical and the digital ("cloud") universe raises fundamental questions about the nature of human connection. Morals teach us to be united, connected, loving, honest, and capable of solving problems together, rather than being judgmental and divided. If there is a moral constraint on whether to do something, perhaps we may ask ourselves about the cost – for ourselves, for others, for our families. Many times, there are stories where intelligent but vulnerable young people are exploited for reasons inexplicable in any textbook. I often think that what is right is to preserve reality in a way that the belief, hope, and resilience for an even better tomorrow never diminish. The vision and realisation of a future world where we help each other and solve problems using more ethical tools may be a defining success of the advancement of the human mind.

Perhaps we may ask ourselves about human connection in a technological world and how to sustain communities in a tech-driven society. Despite its advantages, technology can also lead to feelings of isolation. The convenience of digital communication can result in shallow interactions. A study published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships found that 64% of internet users felt that online conversations lacked depth compared to in-person discussions. When conversations largely move to text, nuances such as tone and body language can be easily overlooked, leading to misunderstandings.

Furthermore, technology can contribute to addiction. The average American spends over seven hours a day on screens. With less time dedicated to face-to-face interactions, the richness and quality of relationships may decline. While online interactions are often easier to initiate, fostering genuine connections requires more effort. While there is a fair share of worries about technology's impact on relationships, we must also recognize its benefits. One of the most significant advancements is the ability to maintain connections over long distances. In a 2022 survey, over 70% of respondents indicated they felt closer to friends and family thanks to video calls and messaging apps, enabling relationships that might have otherwise faded.

Is it moral to explore other planets, prolong human spaceflight, and venture into the vastness of space? If human spaceflight brings inspiration, hope, and resilience, if it teaches and expands humanity's understanding beyond our current understanding, then we may deem this journey to the stars and other planets worthwhile. We may continue to send technology, but what if we find new homes on those distant worlds? We might frame it as a matter of choices. All the people who have been or are in space have undergone rigorous training to be more connected to science, more aware of the vastness of the cosmos, and thus often more longing for our planet and for normal human interactions. Based on the moral compass that guides them, our primary goal of survival as a species takes precedence. Secondly, there may be extraordinary achievements by individuals in space, such as the violin scene from the Polaris Dawn program, showcasing human experiences. Earth itself remains as beautiful as ever. We might consider focusing on our children, giving them access to education, the right to speak, explore, find their way, be proactive, and successful. Morals are not just the values we uphold but also our social security, networking, what we say, what we do, what we think, and how we navigate life, knowing that not everything we encounter is moral and right, but that we can preserve ourselves if we understand the power of what we build. I may be one of eight billion people, and when I stop thinking of myself as uniquely important, I can free myself to consider ways to improve, give more, and be among those who love learning, strive for improvement, offer respect, and cultivate fertile ground for new ideas and innovative morals for today.

More deeply into the topic, Morals, according to Philosophers like Nietzsche, can be viewed as either "Master" morality, behaviours that push us towards excellence, or "Slavish" morality, behaviours that propel misconduct and animal instincts: a masterly, noble form versus a slavish, weak one. The moral codes of society must also be considered. What is moral to a society may not align with a universal or divine morality.

Note for values: humility, modesty, charity, forgiveness, kindness. Negative attributes: selfishness, aggression. Morality and civilisation are as important as they have always been. The ideas and values that individuals uphold shape them, drive them forward, and enable the existence of future generations. Morality has been instrumental in helping individuals bring their notions, ideas, and work to life. Through this, they may remain steadfast, respectful, and respected, creating an environment where other humans can thrive. The current technological advancement may lead us to the realization that what is moral for one nation may not always be true for another. However, the common aspirations for realization, creativity, and development are urging us to unite for good, to be discreet in our negative thoughts so that we do not cause harm to anyone by aknowledging such thoughts in a way that we respond to them, and to show wisdom as much as possible. The brighter side of civilisation is that while one may condemn another, viewed from a broader perspective, there are thousands of issues to be solved, and choosing one or two to dedicate oneself to is as worthy as choosing to be kind to oneself.