UNDERSTANDING OURSELVES

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I – I think therefore I am. 

II – Because I am, I exist. 

III – Because I exist, reality exists. 

IV – The exact nature of my existence and that of nature is not fully understood. 

V – My existence and my reality might be the only true existence with all things being a consequence of my existence. 

VI – My existence might be a consequence of the existence of an underpinning reality which is separate and non-dependent upon my existence.  

VII – My existence might be a consequence of another’s existence making me a consequence of and dependent upon their existence. 

I – Consciousness is the ability to understand, integrate, use, and transmit information.

II – The greater an individual’s ability to understand, integrate, use, and transmit information the more conscious said induvial is said to be.  

III – Some species, and some individuals are more conscious than others. 

IV – There will necessarily be variations in consciousness among individuals of the same species. 

V – Said variations in consciousness can be caused by genetic, environmental, social, or learned factors.

VI – Consciousness can be lost or gained depending on the conditions for consciousness being met or lost. 

VII – Consciousness can be expanded through evolution, learning, society, or the use of technology. 

VIII – Humanity has and continues to be become increasingly interconnected through its use of learning, society, and technology.  

IX – As humanity becomes deeply interconnected individual consciousness will expand. 

X – Since humanity is becomes more conscious and interconnected a new form of consciousness is emerging. 

XI – This new form of consciousness is a collective, or social consciousness. 

XII – This collective, or social consciousness is desirable.  

I – Any given individual’s understanding of its existence and reality is necessarily based upon its capability to perceive.  

II – Humanities capability to perceive is underpinned by to concepts of space and time. 

III – Human perception is based on the collection and interpretation of space and time filtered through our senses.  

IV – Each individual has its own unique ability to perceive based upon its ability to collect, understand, integrate and use the filtered information gained from its senses. 

V – Our ability to collect, understand, integrate, and use the information gained by our perception is limited by the underpinning concepts of space and time.  

VI - Our ability to collect, understand, integrate, and use the information gained by our perception is limited by the filters of our senses. 

VII –Perceptual certainty is therefore limited and biased. 

VIII – However, humanity is gifted with the ability to create, understand and integrate concepts beyond what is provided by its perceptions using pure thought.  

I - While often quite similar each individual will always have a unique perspective. 

II – Each individual’s perspective is biologically based on its faculties to perceive. 

III – Each individual’s perspective is further colored by the said individual’s learning and experience. 

IV – A given individual must accept that its own perspective is not necessarily true or correct. 

V – As an individual within society we each must understand that our views are not the only views. 

VI – Each individual should accept and understand that while it is not necessarily possible to agree with every other viewpoint it should accept their existence and work to understand them. 

VII – In every incident which is observed by more than one individual multiple separate and unique versions and interpretations of the same event will result. 

VIII – Even when there is an actual representation of an event such as a video, recording, photo, or transcript each individual will still develop a separate and unique interpretation of said event. 

I - The unique biology, stimuli, and experiences of a given individual makes up said individual’s perception of itself and its perceived reality.  

II – The biology, stimuli, and experiences of a given individual are necessarily different than all other individuals which causes each individuals perception of itself and its perceived reality to be unique.  

III – Since a given individual’s perception of itself and its perceived reality is self-centered and unique to said individual it can be said that every individual is the center of its own reality.  

IV – As given individual is the center of its own reality said individual should be aware that it is the center of its own reality. 

V – A given individual is only capable of controlling its own perceptions and reality up to but not past its own understanding of its perceptions and reality.  

VI – Within its given understanding and capacity each given individual should work to advance its own understanding of its perceptions and reality. 

VII – As a given individual gains greater understanding of its own perceptions and its own reality the limitation placed on said individual by its own perceptions and its own reality will diminish allowing said individual to become more self-actualized.  

I – All life, regardless of form uses information. 

II – Information is any stimuli that can be used for processing regardless of its makeup or origin.  

III – Use of information by a givens species provides said species the means to survive, adapt, and reproduce. 

IV – In some complex species novel information can be created. 

V – Species that adapt to more efficiently collect, process, create, and transmit information are necessarily more successful than those who do not.  

VI – To become increasingly successful species must gain access to more complex forms of information. VII – To collect, process, create, and transmit more complex forms of information species are themselves required to become increasingly complex. 

VIII - Therefore the purpose of a given species existence is the collection, processing, creation and transmission of information from generation to generation.  

IX – This transmission of information from generation to generation is the basic method by which a species becomes more complex.  

I – Sexuality is a biological function in that upon creation of a given organism said organism is biologically predisposed to attempt to reproduce as its biology dictates. 

II – As sexuality is a biological process a given organism does not choose to be heterosexual, homosexual, or asexual, etc.  

III - In higher thinking organisms a given individual should not be considered negatively if its biological sexual preference is different than the majority, so long as its sexual preferences cause no harm in other individuals. 

IV – When considering sexuality in higher organisms, I.E. thinking organisms that have a concept of morality, said morality should not lead to persecution of other forms of sexuality except when said forms of sexuality cause harm.  

I – Virtue is defined as certain actions, inactions, or behaviors that when viewed subjectively are considered to be good or beneficial. 

II – In all individuals’ virtue is an inherent trait as an individual’s genetic makeup determines the basic terms of its existence. 

III – It is possible due to genetic variances for an individual’s inherent virtues to be divergent from the rest of a given population.  

IV – Even traits that are learned by an individual are inherent as learning itself is inherent. 

V – The inherent nature of virtue in humanity is a requirement for it to have advanced to its current state. 

VI – It is the universal understanding of virtuous behavior shared among humanity that creates a basis for all social interaction.  

VII – It is possible for individuals to learn non virtuous behaviors which can override the individual’s natural virtues.   

VIII – As such it is important to understand that while virtue is an inherent trait in humanity it can be distorted or overridden due genetic variance, poor treatment, environment, hardships, or horror.  

I – Some choices are biologically determined and are therefore completely unconscious behaviors which work to make an individual act in certain ways given certain conditions.  

II – Some choices are unconsciously learned behaviors which can affect both conscious and unconscious behaviors.  

III – Some choices are the result of conscious learning and thought and are therefore deliberate acts of an individuals will. 

IV – An Individual human as an action of its will can overcome both conscious and unconscious imperatives.  

V – As many choices are the result of conscious or unconscious learning it is vital that both environment and teaching are oriented in ways deemed beneficial for individuals and society. 

VI – Understanding the type of choice that led to a given behavior is important in that it can determine the moral implications of said behavior 

VII – Those choices that are a direct result of will are the sole responsibility of a given individual. 

VIII – Those choices that are a result of genetics, environmental factors, and unconscious learning are not only the responsibility of the individual but are also the responsibility of society. 

IX – It is necessary for society to understand and accept its role in the actions of the individual. 

I – Bias is the internal or external views held by an individual that consciously or unconsciously affect said individuals’ perceptions, opinions, actions, inactions, and interactions. 

II – Bias is a function of biology and learning. 

III – Since bias is a function of both biology and learning, and since both are inherent virtues of our species bias is therefore an inherent trait in our species.  

IV – Each individual has its own unique biology and unique sets of experiences or learning, as such each individual has its own unique set of biases. 

V – Bias extends past the individual into culture, language, and society. 

VI – Individual Biases necessarily affect social biases, and social biases necessarily affect individual biases. 

VII – Biases are often inappropriate and destructive to individuals and to society. 

VIII – Because many biases are inappropriate and destructive individuals and societies must accept the existence of, and the effects of bias. 

IX – Because many biases are inappropriate and destructive individuals and society must work to reduce bias through understanding and education.  

I – Your conscious actions are your own, as such hold yourself to account in all things.  

II – Right action and wrong action are not subjective concepts. 

III – Those actions or inactions which prevent pain, suffering, hardship, and horror are right. 

IV – Those actions or inactions which cause pain, suffering, hardship, and horror are wrong. 

V – Each individual’s action should work to advance humanity, family, and self. 

VI – Each individual should render aid to other individuals in need within the limits of said individuals means and capability. 

VII – Inflicting pain, suffering, hardship, and horror in the defense of humanity, family, and self is right when necessary and justifiable.  

VIII – A given individual should not expect its own needs to outweigh the needs of the many. 

IX – The needs of all individuals should be considered and looked after except when they stand to cause pain, suffering, hardship, and horror.   

I – All processes are governed by forces external to themselves. 

II – Freedom is objective for most processes and is not experienced or questioned. 

III – For complex biology such as humanity freedom is both objective and subjective as it is both experienced and questioned. 

IV – For those who experience freedom both objectively and subjectively should by said experience understand that true objective freedom is impossible.  

V – In organisms that subjectively experience freedom the exercise of said subjective freedom for its own sake is wasted.