In my latest book A Final Theory of God" I made these comments in the final chapter regarding my purpose for the book:
The task of A Final Theory of God is to awaken the human spirit to its true moral purpose and its true moral destiny.
It aspires to awaken in humanity and especially in those who hold in their hands the power and resources to influence the course of government science philosophy and religion the moral purpose and destiny that is written in our hearts and in our minds so that humanity can shake off the shackles of bondage to our primitive instincts and work towards a new vision. A vision true to humanitys moral purpose and destiny: a model of government and justice that reflects the Universal Moral Law.
It urges science to re-tool its energies and investigations to the discovery and explanation of the link between the laws of physics chemistry and biology and the moral aptitude of the human organism to recognize the laws of morality that are embedded in our minds. Sir Robert Winston has made a start with his recognition of a morality module" in man but the task is immense. The focus must be re-orientated to make the connection between the fundamental laws of physics and the fundamental principles of the moral law" and the curious human ability to see those laws.
Instead of tearing apart the very notion of a moral purpose to the human species science should set itself to explaining why that moral purpose wont be silenced.
A Final Theory of God provides a brief to philosophers jurists politicians and political scientists theologians and economists to apply themselves to the task of interpreting and implementing humanitys moral destiny in cooperation with scientists. Each must inform and learn from the other. Vanity must be overcome and discipline-centric research set aside. The goal must be clear reinvigorate the human spirit in its true moral purpose and set humanity on course to fulfill its cosmic destiny.
Nothing could be more important.
Before we venture out into the far reaches of the cosmos let us prepare a gift for whomever and whatever we may find out there; a gift we set by example right here on Earth. Let us not be a cosmic Columbus visiting upon the universe death and destruction oppression and hate strife and discord greed and indulgence. We must be a beacon of light not a harbinger of death."
But after publishing the book I feared that science would lead us down the road to a Final Theory of Despair.
Then I awoke this morning to an article that gave me hope. Of all places I found it on my Twitter page. A Follower had posted this link:
http://phys.org/news/2015-01-explores-universe-morality.html#jCp
It referenced Dr Kelly Smith of Clemson University a Philosopher and Evolutionary Biologist who suggests that the tendency of the universe to naturally produce complexity has distinctly religious overtones and may even establish a truly universal basis for morality.
Now that is essentially the argument of my book.
However there are some areas in which Dr Smith and I may disagree at present especially as to whether a moral dimension to the laws of physics suggests a Supreme Lawmaker but at least there is a glimmer of light from the scientific community. We may also disagree on the role and significance of reason I consider it to be a highly over-rated commodity. For those who claim it it is like banging on the table" (Alf Ross in respect of Justice).
But what I found very encouraging about Dr Smiths hypothesis is his understanding of how the moral dimension to the laws of the universe may relate to other life in the universe if there be such a thing.
According to the article
Dr Smith feels another similarity to religion is the potential moral implications of this idea. If evolution tends to favor the development of sociality reason and culture as a kind of package deal then its a good bet that any smart extraterrestrials we encounter will have similar evolved attitudes about their basic moral commitments.
In particular they will likely agree with us that there is something morally special about rational social creatures. And such universal agreement argues Smith could be the foundation for a truly universal system of ethics."
Now I may disagree with certain elements of what has been ascribed to Dr Smith but I can agree with the effect a universal moral law would have. This is what I say in the very first chapter of my book regarding extraterrestrial intelligence:
If the Laws of Physics and the Laws of Morality are the same thing and as we shall see that is exactly what the evidence suggests then Stephen Hawking will have nothing to fear from aliens. If the Principles constituting a Final Theory of the universe also turn out to be the Principles of a Final Theory of morality the one thing we could be fairly sure of is that if aliens had mastered the physical Principles so as to be able to traverse the universe they would also have mastered the moral Principles because they would be one and the same. So rather than embarking on a Columbus-style subjugation and extermination of the human race as Hawking fears the aliens would more likely school us in the error of our ways and divert our ability to reason away from a frantic and fanatical servicing of our primitive carnal instincts and bring it into the service of the Principles of morality."
Where scientists philosophers and theologians will go with this is yet to be seen. But I find Dr Smiths direction of research most encouraging.
Hopefully others will take up the challenge.
Joseph BH McMillan is the author of A Final Theory of God" and Freedom v A Tyranny of Rights" -
http://josephbhmcmillan.com
Copyright © Joseph BH McMillan 2015 All Rights Reserved
