Economics and Morality. INSIGHTS by Joe Howard Crews - Sep. 19, 2006 The most complex science in the Universe is probably economics. It is so complex, many contend it is actually a form of Art. Art and Science are very closely related, of course. Art and its soul, Beauty, are inseparable. The beauty of economics is its simplicity, and the economics of beauty is its simplicity. This may all sound contradictory and confusing. What is more complex than the totality of the workings of the entire Universe? Yet, theoretical scientists find the beauty of the entire Universe in simple, comprehensive equations, such as E=MC(square). Physicists have been searching for decades for the Grand Unified Theory, to explain in one single formula how the entire Universe operates. But one thing they all seem to agree on is that such a theory must be beautiful, i.e., it must have simplicity and economy. Economy is Beauty. The powerful soul of Art is its economy. This is the power of Picasso. Essentially, economics is simple, functioning on the basis of freedom of all parts to interact. Men do not create economics. The Universe has already done that. All men can do is interfere with and manipulate economics. They simply have to follow the rules of the Universe. It is only when greedy men and ambitious governments interfere that economics becomes inefficient. Such men can push a lot of air into one side of the balloon, until such balloons can go “pop!” WHAT? Can men defy and distort the Beauty of Economics? Well, of course! That is what the evolution of organic intelligence is all about: tinkering with the laws of the Universe, to see how far the rubber band can be stretched before it either breaks or snaps back. It is about the temporary distortion of the rules of economics. Economics and morality What is the relation between economics and morality? First, let’s choose firm ground by defining terms: (1) Economics and (2) Morality. Let us seek definitions which are a priori (a type of knowledge that is independent of experience, or non-empirical). I offer the following: Economics = simplicity of evolution through the shortest time. This can be the evolutionary development of a corporation or the creation of a species. Morality = Respecting the worth and rights of all life forms. A close friend and I discussed the meaning of morality. Neither of us even considered religion, of course. We both regard religion as a power structure to control the behavior and wealth of others, with little to do with the fundamentals of morality. Religions are structures for power and wealth. Some of the ideas we considered: 1) - Morality is the intuitive recognition of the worth and rights of other human beings. 2) - Morality is the mutual recognition of the worth and rights of humans and other life forms. 3) - Morality requires action. Without action, we remain in the theoretical world of prejudice and isolation. Feed the poor, don’t just think about it. 4) - Morality is the recognition of the interdependence of various life forms for long term mutual survival. 5) - Morality is the transcendent respect for all life. This comes closer to the Buddhist concept of morality. I know of no better definition of morality than the message from the great Indian Chief Seattle: “This we know: The Earth does not belong to us. We belong to the Earth. This we know: All things are connected - like the blood that unites one family, all things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons and daughters of the Earth. We did not weave the Web of life. We are merely strands in it. Whatever we do to the Web, we do to ourselves.” Morality seems to be founded in the communications between those in the Web of Life. It has much to do with compassion, empathy and sentient comprehension. ************************ See more like this at www.ProgressivePost.com |
