Life (Part VI): The two laws of Life
Their utilities and applications
Monsieur Jourdain, Molière's bourgeois gentleman, marveled when he was told that he had been speaking prose all his life without knowing it.
Human beings have also been making our species survive, like cows or spiders, without expressly realizing the importance of this doing.
Survival has been achieved instinctively. The basic law of survival of the species is implicit in all living beings. And each species, based on this primordial mandate, has been incorporating into the genetic programming of its individual organisms the instructions that, whether correct or not, it has believed to be best at all times for the species to survive. The human species has incorporated broad altruism as a priority behavior criterion within its vital programming,
It is clear that the two laws are of different rank: The Law of Survival is primordial and universal. Practicing some type of altruism is a norm adopted by social species as a means to survive. Our species/family Homo sapiens has practiced, and increasingly assumed, a broad altruism that has allowed it to live together in large interrelated groups.
I cannot resist repeating here the anecdote of the sergeant explaining the law of gravity to his recruits telling them: “Things fall to the ground due to Mr. Newton's law of gravity, and if there were no law of gravity they would fall due to their own weight”.
Thus, we men have complied and we are complying with the laws of survival and altruism instinctively, despite wise men and legislators have not recognized or published them.
Now it is clear to us, at least to a few of us, that human beings live so that our species survives. And that the best way to try, for the species and for us, is to act with broad altruism as a priority rule.
A. Utilities: What are these Laws for?
The knowledge, assumption and application of these two laws by all human beings, specially by thinkers and legislators, will be of enormous importance. I list below some utilities that represent great changes to many of the ideas and beliefs in force:
These laws are not just an expression of a theory
They explain the meaning of our life as living human beings. We don´t know scientifically whether our actions or omissions have other purposes (both material and spiritual or transcendent). But even if they had them, the purpose of the survival of the species is prior and necessary for all of them. And what is done or omitted with altruism/love for the survival and well-being of humanity will be good for this and for all possible good purposes. And it will make us happy.
And these laws imply an implicit vital imperative that “commands” human beings to do what is good/best for the survival of our species using broad altruism as the main means. With the capabilities that each one has as a person and with their possibilities as a member of the society in which they carry out their activities. Within the enormous freedom of human beings to comply or not with this mandate. And you don't have to be perfect. Living well is usually enough. Thinkers and those who lead have more tasks whether they are lay and religious, work for public or private organizations, or lead globally or only to a group.
They frame and substantiate the good recommendations of environmental groups, included in the latest encyclicals of the Popes, the declarations of leaders of religions and spiritualities, of good humanisms and philosophical doctrines, of civic organizations, of the partial good purposes of the UN and its Agencies, etc …Let me remember you that the Good/Best is that which is Good/Best for the survival of the species and its well-being.
Is urgent to review what is now being done partially and in groups. Counting on the vision of Humanity as a subject and with its survival and well-being as an end. With broad altruism as a means. See section B on applications.
They must serve so that all people know and assume that they are first beings humans belonging to the same Humanity, rather than Americans or Chinese, believers or atheists, left or right, rich or poor. So that all human beings act as such. And so that they demand that their leaders also act like human beings and exercise their power for the good of their group but as part of humanity.
This conversion is easy if you want to do it and have the power to do it. We all have that first mandate in our nature. With today's media, the express adoption of this perennial implicit moral foundation can be done worldwide in a couple of generations.
They are universal and neutral laws. They can be assumed by all people regardless of their beliefs and ideologies, without having to renounce them: believers, atheists, capitalists, communists, Westerners, Easterners, North and South, etc ... And allow people of different opinions work together in the development of universal ethical standards and laws that can be applied to different cultures and beliefs.
In their theoretical aspect they complement the theory of evolution, since they provide the basis and purpose that it lacks. And they can answer many outstanding doubts about the biological concepts of species, altruism, purpose, causation, functions, etc...
They confirm the commands of the religions of the Book of growing and multiplying and of loving all your neighbors, near and far.
They reinforce and update the idea of Universal Brotherhood. All people are members of a single biological family with the same common goal, the preservation of humanity using altruism/love as priority means.
They support the idea of equality and dignity of all people, and the idea that all human beings have the same rights and, above all, the same homework.
It is very important to highlight that these laws impose the obligation to do or omit what is good/best for the survival of the species first. And considering that everyone may fulfill this duty, we have the right to provide ourselves with the means to do so, as somehow is said the Declaration of Human Rights. Clearly a declaration to review putting the obligations first and then the rights.
They avoid the relativism of those who have the capacity to create or modify ethical and moral norms and laws. It is no longer good or bad what those in power or the people in voting say. What is technically considered good for the survival and well-being of humanity and its people, both living and future human beings, will be good. The technical decision is not difficult given what we know today.
In summary, I believe that these ideas, in addition to being scientifically true, are useful and easily “marketable” since they can facilitate the solution of many of the problems we face as humanity, both theoretical and practical.
B. Possible Applications
I shall remember that we started from the principle “Is good/better whatever is good/best for the well-being and survival of humanity using broad altruism as the primary means”.
In Survival and Altruism: A Universal Ethical Principle I dedicated the last forty pages to stating seventeen possible applications. There is a more recent version in Present and Future of the Humanity that I will summarize below of the seventeen applications as well some previous work to do.
The previous work would consist of making a single list with the main problems that affect the survival and well-being of humanity and the possible measures to be taken. There are already important works by different organizations but it would be advisable to unify them with the vision of vital laws.
Global warming and its effects, overpopulation, hunger and agrarian crises, wars and weapons of mass destruction, ecological risks, biological weapons, and possible misuse of Artificial Intelligence are usually mentioned among the major problems due to human causes, and global pandemics, climate change, geological and cosmic risks as non-human existential risks.
In any case, for the work and applications to be effective and efficient, they must be done with a global vision, both of the basic objective of survival and of the means and criteria to be used. The scope of action must be all of humanity. Also we must take into account action times to obtain and to maintain achieved results. With these ideas, we should act where it is easiest and most urgent in the following fields:
Establish a World Authority. There are some important voices advocating for One World Government. I consider it very difficult and risky in the short term. But a UN Agency could be created as soon as possible to take charge of the development and application of these ideas. It may be of a consultative nature, such as a World Ethics Council, or with the capacity to execute its own decissions or those adopted by a UN Executive Commission to be created.
Promote The Idea of Humanity. The idea of humanity is very recent but has grown a lot with pandemics and global problems. It is essential for the implementation of all changes and it is easy to do it with current means.
It would be supported by a World Manifesto (1) and, eventually, by a possible Constitution of Humanity.
Review and update global norms, laws and agreements that affect the most significant and urgent issues: environmental problems, cessation of all wars and conflicts demanding aid to marginal countries and groups, elimination of lethal weapons... Each State review your laws in what is most urgent and easy.
Maintain the global society model. Nations and states can have autonomy to govern themselves and relate to others. With their cultures and their circumstances. With two basic ideas: they should try to live as well as possible, but acting as supportive members of humanity.
Guide policies on the population, its distribution and its well-being. Apply the concept of responsible parenthood both at the individual and group level. It is surely the most important and urgent issue to review. With the vital laws the question could be posed globally and with light and stenographers.
Review issues about Sexuality, Family and Reproduction . I believe that laypeople and believers can agree on the basic criteria in these matters. Respecting everyone 's beliefs and cultures but trying to maintain the family as the basis of society and altruism/love.
Define a new Human Ecology. Rethink current global and regional actions with the enormous possibilities that the application of the two basic laws would bring to group ethics and economic, social and population policies.
Genetic and Environmental Engineering. The two basic laws offer the foundation to resolve the problems raised about the use of these technologies. Both in its reactive use to “heal” and in its possible uses to improve the species and its environment.
Use Social Engineering, with its enormous existing and developing technical capabilities, for the dissemination and implementation of basic laws and their applications: cinema, radio, Social Networks, Internet, Podcast, Artificial Intelligence...
Incorporate these ideas into World Educational Systems. Adapting existing texts. And even creating a specific subject at the levels that interest you.
Redesign Economic and Social Policies to review the goods and services to be produced, the production and distribution systems... For example, we should not produce weapons of war or dispensable goods whose production or use are more polluting, tend towards vital slack but with austerity individual, maintain and promote good local practices seeking open autarky... It's easy. It can be done with any global, local or regional economic model: liberalism of different types, socialism, cooperativism... And it seems difficult but they are technical issues that with current means can be resolved in phases in a few years.
Help and reconvert the marginalized, both individuals and groups or nations. The poor, the displaced and the conflictive are marginal. Today there are more than 800 million poor people and there are groups and countries that are especially problematic in their relationships, internally and with others. With the criteria of the two vital laws and the implementation of other applications, it is not difficult to solve these problems: helping and demanding. Given the seriousness and urgency of some cases, their resolution should begin as soon as possible. Always with the vision of being members of humanity: of the helpers and of the helped.
Work with the creators of ethics: religions, philosophers, politicians, ideologies, de facto powers... The two biological laws have been and are the basis of human behavior. Having them now explicit should facilitate the review of aspects of group ethics that affect the survival and well-being of humanity. There should be no problems since the two laws are natural and universal and do not affect the basic beliefs of religions or ideologies. The possible World Ethics Agency or Council can guide and define, both actively and reactively, the general principles and contrast some partial ethics, but the creation, dissemination, application and judgment of group ethics, both vertical and horizontal, corresponds to the group leaders and religions and wise men.
Review nationalisms and other ideologies. The vital laws are against everything that confronts humans. But they are compatible with all societies and groups. And with all ideologies, religions and forms of government, without them having to renounce their beliefs and dogmas. The required condition is that the leaders and members of all groups assume that above all they are human beings and that, therefore, they must have their belonging to humanity as the basis of their norms and policies.
Establish a List of Crimes and Misdemeanors against Humanity that typify those behaviors that most seriously threaten survival and global well-being. For example, in what affects the habitat, the coexistence between people and groups, waste, scandal or bad example...
Similarly, define a List of Universal Virtues and Values that are good for compliance with the two laws.
Establish an Universal Ethics. It is an old aspiration from Kant's cosmopolitanism, updated by many voices, among others by those of Adela Cortina, Amelia Valcárcel, Victoria Camps, Hans Küng (2) and the Document of the International Theological Commission In search of a universal ethics. The two basic laws can serve as the basis for a universal ethics that bases the individual and group ethics of the different groups as they affect the survival of our humanity and the well-being of the people who comprise it: current and future.
Explanatory note: It can be thought that the application of the two vital laws are ways of conditioning the behavior of human beings. It's true. But if they do not know and assume these universal principles, people and their groups will continue to be influenced and bound by group norms and laws dictated by those who have the power to do so and current and future problems will continue.
Final remarks
For those who have a little time, humor and desire, I recommend that you read these utilities and applications slowly. Above all, if any of them affect them more directly due to their work or circumstances. Each one has content to write several books. I remind you that you can expand this summary in the indicated links. And I will be happy to clarify doubts and receive suggestions.
(1) Supervivir Pag 339-341
(2) Kung, H. Project for a Global Ethic. Trotta, Madrid, 1991. Also see Survival and Altruism. Pag. 124 to 134