Sunday, August 05, 2012

How far can we extend group morality?


The scientific work of Wilson and Cattell, as well as common observation, shows that morality evolved from group selection. Survival advantages went to the groups who could bond together morally without killing each other, in competition, and even war, with other groups. The groups with the morality which was best bonded within the group were more successful in survival and reproduction. Individual and kin selection took place within the bonded groups. Kin and ethnic selection does not disappear from basic human nature when group selection is acknowledged, politically incorrect as this may be.

To demand equality with no preference for ones own group departs too far from actual human nature,which is why it has never worked. But I think it is possible to extend group selection to cooperative competition, rather than murderous competition between groups. Both culture and genetics are involved in this sublimation of aggressive drives.

Competition in group selection is the natural way to find positive evolutionary mutations, which can ideally then be shared with the world, while maintaining the natural preference for ones own group. It has been shown time after time that cultural and genetic stagnation sets in without competition. Does this sound like too much for humans to handle?  Human beings are capable of this, but it does seem to require the cultural and genetic sublimation of aggressive and sexual drives toward higher evolution. We are all evolving to Godhood but we won't get there without cooperation within the parameters of actual human nature and group selection.

The one basic instinct that needs to be affirmed is the Spirit-Will-To-Godhood which activates material life and is then shaped by evolution. To evolve in the world and in the cosmos to Godhood is the essential purpose and reason for our existence, and it is the present and future mission of religion and science to help in this sacred mission, by guiding the various competing groups in how we may best survive and evolve.  

No comments:

Post a Comment