Friday

Good Society: Science, Basic Goodness, Laws and Joy - comment

Photo by Robert V. Ruggiero on Unsplash

The first part of a two-part series by Shastri Russell Rodgers

All over the world, wherever there are humans, there are societies. We have evolved different languages, customs, and even skin colors, but always, there is society. Society has enabled us to transmit knowledge and technologies. These have enabled us humans to dominate the earth, perhaps to our own detriment.

Some strands of Buddhism suggest that society itself can become enlightened. This is the basis of the Himalayan legend of Shambhala. If we are contemplating whether a society can become enlightened, or at least live in harmony with the earth, understanding the urge to “good” society is important.

Since most people don’t like to read long articles on their screens, I will split this up into two parts. In Part I, I will look at how some prominent scientists have theorized that society-building urges are built into our DNA.

In Part II, I will explore how the social undercurrents that exist between humans can be brought into consciousness as we go about our daily lives. I’ll try to explore how our sense of goodness becomes codified in societal laws, and how these can become on-the-spot channels for the expression of goodness. Continue…