The Science Of Decency

The Rundown: TSOD is a study of interpersonal relativity. However, intellectual and moral relativity does not stop at humanity. Any being that can define, and interact, on a social level is intellectually and morally relative. This means that decency also crosses the species gap.

In modern society, it has become commonplace to ascribe morality to the human individual. Occasionally, we receive stories of heroism from cats, dogs, and other animals. Is it because they're just now catching up to us in terms of social activities? Maybe. Or maybe they've always been equals with us in the framework, but not in the complexity of their actions.

While the human race is certainly the most socially and technologically complex organism on this planet, it is certain that we are designed similarly to other life-forms. We show our similarities when we classify ourselves as mammals, bipeds, etc. The wonder is then, 'why do these animals sometimes resemble our behavior?'

The Master Processing Chart and its application (See videos 3 (Parts 1&2) & 4 (Part 1)) show us that our physical nature, similar to that of animals, is connected directly to our mind. Our minds, by this outline (namely the MPC), process data of certain qualities using proprietary physical complexities, leading in some cases to thoughts of morality and reason. The complexity of these thoughts is on par with said proprietary physical complexities. So, beings that are more complex have a greater capability of making complex associations. So the question is: What is it about these thoughts that makes up morality and reason that can help us shed light on the similarity between ourselves and our furry cohorts?

Is it complexity which defines morality? A moral thought is a piece of data that includes the understanding of self, and is often based on interactions with other beings. It defines what is "good and bad" in the individual. Reason is the if-then statements that make up any given set of data. These statements are the "what if I did this" part of us. Any being that shows an understanding of either positive or negative interaction between itself and another individual in its community is a moral being.

Let's talk about birds for a minute. Birds communicate with one another using song (among many methods), so they must be social creatures. This means they have an awareness of others, and thus, distinction. So, they are intelligent beings. They can associate positive and negative methods of flying, gathering food, and interacting with one another. Sometimes, there are birds who fight for alpha positions. The bird must think positively of itself in order for it to challenge the position. This denotes self-awareness. But the challenger must also value the other bird poorly as a leader, otherwise the squabble would not be justified. It is, after all, the leadership that can only be held by one bird. So by comparison, the positively attributed self is the need in the social environment. This need, when acted upon, is a moral decision that the challenger makes in order to provide a "proper" environment for the other birds.

By this example, the power of their processing appears to be limited and may not denote a clear sense of distinction in morality. But think about the lowest end of the avian social spectrum. The omega of omega birds bird is the lowest on the totem pole. They may think highly of themselves to a certain degree, but they may not act upon the alpha bird position because they feel they are not worthy of the title. This shows that though a bird may have self-worth, contemplation may occur (denoting a conflict in reasoning) contrary to the occasional struggle for bird leadership which is present in that community. Birds aren't even mammals, but they exhibit the some similar attributes to mammals.

Insects do this too! Bees can communicate with other bees on the position of plants. They can also fight for mating rights. These are very basic moral attributes, but they indeed exist! Data present in their environment helps shape their memory--and we now know from studies today that insects have basic memory. Though, contrary to some modern thoughts, TSOD proposes that we are just as intelligent as bees in the sense that we, too, are pre-programmed with many little rules. Some come with distinction (present in the birds and bees), but in our human rules, we simply have a greater propensity for diversity in perception and data management.

What are the implications? This means that decency can indeed, extend to all forms of intelligent life which have met the criteria for morality. Given that the life is capable of learning, the Master Processing Chart and the accompanying studies of TSOD can be used to understand animals as well as humans. The information that moves through the flow may be a bit simplified in various fauna compared to our every day dealings in the global human community, but the framework is indeed present. It is then safe safe to say that morality can be learned from the situations at hand.

So share a pleasant afternoon with your dog, your cat, your bird, and/or your rat. They just might thank you.

-C. Thomas (Author, Proprietor)

-Edited by S. Walsh

(Title photo by Jason Nelson)