Recap and Update
In September we began our human-story exploration with an overview of deep time and our evolutionary history. Next, we traced the growth of civilization to the beginning of modernity and our unsustainable present. In the previous two posts we first considered our near-future socioecological predicament, followed by considering worldviews compatibly aligned with natural processes. From now through December, weekly posts will explore areas of concern associated with the unknown potential future of our human story.
In thinking long and hard about this main topic – Our Human Story and Future Sustainability – I’ve selected some time-proven concepts and values that could help humanity adopt a wisdom-based paradigm to serve as a foundation in creating a resilient and sustainable future for our species, all other lifeforms, and all material entities. Following are some concepts and values for consideration in guiding us toward a long-term resilient and sustainable future.
The Intrinsic Values of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty
I concur with renowned philosophers who have endorsed a keystone conceptual value system featuring the three ancient Greek-inspired transcendental cosmic domains: Truth (Logos = reality), Goodness (Ethos = morality), and Beauty (Pathos = beauty or quality). Transcendental refers to a cosmic reality that exists beyond time, space, and matter. Understanding these three domains in relation to knowing and being requires a brief explanation of each domain’s essential role in relation to the whole. We begin with Truth, representing the foundation of reality, of knowing and being.
Truth (the True) represents the timeless qualities and characteristics of all that exists in both material and non-material states, forms, and dimensions. The general belief is that truth is an absolute quality and corresponds with what is experienced by conscious beings, but variously interpreted. The existence and confirmation of any common physical object or concept as real (true) occurs when processed through the physical senses and psycho-emotional responses of sensitively-receptive people.
Today, when interpreting mysterious phenomena (the unknown), getting to truth typically requires multiple rigorous evidentiary observations and tests by reliable experts, particularly scientists in key disciplines. For example, the law of gravitation and the law of supply and demand have been determined by substantial scientific findings, and confirmed through common human experience. Though not considered a natural law, the “theory” of evolution provides an established satisfactory explanation of how everything came to be, beginning with the Big-Bang’s basic atomic matter (stardust) of the universe to the birth, aging, and material transformation of all lifeforms.
The fact that life (consciousness) evolves from matter by means of such a phenomenal natural process inspires me with awe-inspiring wonder and gratitude. If the term “God” is perceived as a natural evolutionary force — as opposed to being a super anthropomorphic being — then Nature (Gaia) may represent that which is deserving of one’s deepest respect, admiration, and devotion.
My principal goal has been to seek, discover, and understand as much as possible about both objective and subjective “reality” (the True). This quest also governs my interpretation and application of the Good (morality) and the Beautiful (quality), both of which hold value as essential components of Truth. Moreover, because all evolved lifeforms fill unique niches within compatible ecosystems, all lifeforms are automatically endowed with both intrinsic and extrinsic value. Finally, it helps to think of Truth as an objective “IT”, indicating a material object or mental construct (concept, value, quality, etc.).
Goodness (the Good) may be thought of as relating to “WE”, implying a responsibility for us to relate morally and ethically with all beings and things, including animals, insects, plants, landscapes, and material entities. Assuming we do care about all lifeforms and things, then we must take appropriate measures in assuring that all beings and material things receive our empathetic attention. In other words, we need to live harmoniously with all other lifeforms and natural elements. The most common morality-based maxim promoted in all religious and spiritual traditions — the Golden Rule — serves as a simple mandate: “Treat others as you wish to be treated”. For eco-centric persons, this rule applies not only to other humans, but all animate and inanimate entities.
Finally, there’s Beauty (the Beautiful), a more holistically subjective aspect often interpreted as “in the eye of the beholder” (“I”). Beauty may also be thought of as a high-quality concept, perception, or model, as illustrated with the movie A Beautiful Mind, in which case terms like exquisite, magnificent, and amazing might also apply. Our reactions and responses to natural phenomena help explain our innate attraction to the natural world, including awe-inspiring scenery, all forms of life, and physical features.
We also experience awe in response to non-material realities, such as moral goodness when someone performs a virtuous or heroic act, or perhaps an intellectual ‘ah-ah’ moment when fully comprehending a profound scientific truth or an art work, as with a revelation of meaning expressed in a scientific theory, a poem, a musical selection, or any awe-inspiring handiwork or achievement. Hence, the inspired reaction we experience when confronting beauty is present within Nature, both human and non-human, the inspirational source of everything perceived and experienced.
Analyzing and evaluating any artwork requires referencing the seven fundamental elements of art — line, color, value, shape, form, space, and texture, as well as the seven principles of design — balance (symmetrical, asymmetrical, etc.), scale (size), contrast, pattern, movement/rhythm, emphasis, and unity. Some sources I’ve found valuable in addressing the components of critical art theory include Jeremy Lent’s book, The Web of Meaning, in which he explains the multifold fractal “patterns of meaning” that occur in Nature. (See patterns in nature for descriptions and explanations.)
One relevant pattern-oriented phenomenon is known as the golden ratio, described as the ratio 1.618, which is represented by the Greek letter 'phi', and represents a mathematical connection between two aspects of an object. The golden ratio is also referred to as the Fibonacci sequence, whereby each number is the sum of the two numbers that immediately precede it (0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, etc.). I find this concept helpful in explaining the many aspects of beauty experienced across nature, in plants, animals, inanimate physical structures (mountains, cloud formations, snowflakes, etc.), and throughout the universe.
Information thus far indicates that everything we experience exists within our evolved human consciousness, including our perception of Beauty. Within the awesome evolutionary process are found both linear, circular, and cyclical patterns throughout nature, especially in terms of time. Some examples:
• Linear patterns have a beginning and an end, as from birth to death.
• Circular patterns have no beginning, no end, and no repeating cycle, only an endless loop.
• Cyclical patterns are predictable periodic time-based events that are found both within human society and throughout the universe, as observed with cosmic bodies that rotate in circular fashion and/or revolve in cyclical fashion around other bodies. On our wonderful unique planet, for example, we experience such cyclical patterns as 24-hour day-and-night cycles, the annual four-seasons’ cycle, and deep-time geophysical and biophysical cycles that have occurred periodically throughout Earth’s history.
The poem Ode on a Grecian Urn by English poet John Keats (1819) concludes with these two often-quoted lines: ‘Beauty is truth, truth beauty— that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know’. In recalling this poem as required reading in a high-school English class, I finally grasp the depth of its meaning. It succinctly reinforces how everything is interconnected, illustrating how Truth, Goodness, and Beauty are interdependent aspects of reality and symbiotically interrelated.
I firmly believe that a global worldview based on Truth, Goodness, and Beauty could help humanity achieve a socioecological paradigm, a deep-time, big-picture perspective founded on evidence-based science and collective experiential wisdom. Such a potentially transformative paradigm could also be applicable in size, scope, and scale.
Wrap Up
The foregoing description of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty deserves careful thought and study, so I recommend using the listed hyperlinked terms for more details. Perhaps you can hold these domains in mind as you navigate life’s challenges in coming weeks, all the while observing how they apply in daily life. I think you’ll discover many occasions for identifying truth-telling, especially in social media postings, as well as morally-related happenings. And there’s also plenty of beauty to enjoy and appreciate, both in Nature and human creativity.
The next post will continue a survey of major worldviews, from ancient religions to more recent Nature-oriented belief systems. Some principal concepts of Integral Theory will also be covered, particularly in relation to human-development stages, from childhood (egocentrism) to adulthood (ecocentrism). I think you’ll find the information very interesting and worthwhile, perhaps inspiring a concept or activity that stimulates your curiosity and compels pursuit of further knowledge. I hope so!
Illustration: Sustainable Eco-Village (ChatGPT)