Paul Costen (dot com)

Thou shalt not kill… duh. There can be no argument that simple things we call morals are universal. If they’re not genetically inherited (see http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/04/060404201741.htm and http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080711080957.htm) they’re certainly easily learned from societal norms. It’s in our genetic makeup to conform to certain expectations… we wouldn’t be able to have civilization without that very important trait. There are certain arguments about the minutiae of when life begins, and if it’s right to keep animals solely for our benefit. Some cultures use religion as an excuse to force their will upon others. With the assistance of some made up all powerful authority, we can crush all opposition to our ideas and practices. The only problem with that idea is that eventually reason will win out. It’s just a matter of time.

So, people are basically good, to varying degrees, so what is morality? If it is a quality one possesses that others just might not then it goes beyond mere right and wrong. Morality, I believe, is deeply intwined with the idea of values. Politicians use values as a kind of code for ‘vote for me, I hate liberals, just like you do’ but the word has roots in the concept of worth: what actions are worthy for me to carry out, what endeavors are worth my time, Is it worth my while to see this movie or listen to this music?

What we consume tends to define us as people, in the western culture in particular. What we value most, though, is the idea of self improvement, or improvement of humanity in general. Though the deeds of some politicians are motivated by avarice for money and power, the reason one wishes to influence politics is that they believe they can, at least in the way they see it, improve the world. I do not think that those who do not espouse my views are trying to hold back progress. No political organization works toward the goal of making things worse. Self improvement and progress seem to be the order of the day.

In that way, striving to make the world better, as an idea, is one of the most moral actions one can perform. Those like Mother Theresa, Bill Gates, and countless others that volunteer their time and resources are revered in society in a way that those with mere status are not. While Steve Jobs may represent superior design, to think he’s made a greater contribution to the world than his rival Bill Gates is pure folly. Though you cannot discount Jobs, of course. Design makes our lives better by improving the tasks that we do, helping us connect to one-another. Art helps us understand the human condition in a way that science and simple compassion cannot achieve. Music and Theatre help illuminate truths about human relationships that allow us to be more compassionate towards others by recognizing the demons and angels within ourselves.

If simple morality is basic, it is art and taste that in a sense define who we are. In any society what we consume as art also determines what art flourishes, wether or not it is successful as art. It is by our actions that an artist or an idea thrives in society. In in an ideal world it would be the best ideas that survive and lesser ideas that fall by the wayside, but enter the gatekeepers: the publishers and focus groups, corporate executives that value nothing but good numbers when the quarterly earnings statements come out. It is this system that rewards mediocrity in which we find ourselves. It becomes our moral imperative to seek out and patronize that which is good and revolutionary, despite what comes to us easily over the airwaves and tubes. The more we promote quality in our daily lives, the more quality will surround us.

In deciding to write a blog, adding my virtual voice to the millions of pages flowing through the tubes, it is pertinent to think about why we create, why we try new things, and why we have the hubris to think that we can offer something new to the universe. This habit of creating along with the thirst for discovery seems to be the two qualities that set humans apart from other animals.

Humans, biologically, are animals. That’s why studying rats and primates allow us insights into human behavior and give good indicators about how a certain drug might affect us. Studying animals, we’ve been able to observe similarities between those in the animal kingdom at large and us, take for example altruism, pack behavior, and even sexuality. The term ‘lesser animals’, often implying that humans have greater worth is offensive to those sensitive to the condition of animals that we herd and harvest, but still, I think, fitting in a discussion like this.

The first observable trait, creativity, is seen in other animals, but in a more novel way. The elephant that paints, or intellegent birds that create ‘art’ are the subject of countless quirky stories providing filler for the media, in between political scandals, wars, and celebrity deaths. Humans’ capacity, and compulsion for creativity is unmatched. Theatre, music, film, fine art, poetry and writing merely scratch the surface. While these are the most recognized artistic endeavors, things we’d classify as crafts—needlework, scrapbooking, sewing, woodworking, and all manner of craft-store paraphernalia—are much more prevalent and provide an easier satisfaction; The need to create is still satiated, but the steep learning curve to playing instrument with ease, compared to following the instructions that came with the kit, doesn’t play a factor. Making things is, rightly I think, seen as a noble undertaking, a moral act. Even the opposite of creating, idleness, is seen as a vice or a sin.

Thirst for discovery—the second major trait of humans—is also seen in the animal world, but beyond idle curiosity, it isn’t a way of life. An animal that uses its time for curiosity has no time for self-preservation. We have evolved socially to a point where discovery and research are possible and encouraged. This thirst as well as our ability to recognize patterns—sometimes when there are none—has led to miraculous discoveries, such as mathematical principles, physical phenomena, and new worlds ranging from the microscopic to the multiple dimensions dictated by quantum theory.

These two combine to form the very essence of what it means to be human: control. From the world at large—which we view as our own—to our homes and offices, we try to remake things to our preferences. The condition in which we live our lives comfortably is in control. When we feel that things are out of control, we feel ill at ease and try to take steps to remedy that condition. Our farms, powerplants, big cities, zoos, roads, cities, homes, lawns, crafts, design, every human artifact bears the mark of control.

This control is an indifferent force, akin to nuclear power. Its’ awesome force has wrought wars, catastrophic climate change, genocide, famine, webTV, and New Coke, but also the entire history of Art, Science, Music, and Design. Being self-aware is the most important thing we can do as participants in our society, and not stopping to think about our choices politically and personally should be one of the greatest sins of our age.