The Wisdom of our Species. A book we need to write.

[CJ]

Let's do something useful with all the talent here. Let's write a book.

Here' the thing. The holy books of man were written by men. Some parts try to describe the unknown; e.g. how we got here etc. Some parts try to tell us what to do in practical terms; e.g. don't wipe your arse with the hand you eat with etc. Some parts are codified morality; e.g. don't kill people.

If as a species we are going to survive and prosper it is my contention that we need to take the worlds' holy books and squeeze out of them the good ideas in them into a new codified morality. It has to incorporate the strongest secular and humanistic ideas. It has to be simple enough that 80% of the worlds population can understand it and live by it. It has to codify sustainability or we're heading for oblivion. It must encompass equality of opportunity an idea singularly lacking in the holy books of man. It should take the best bits from all the existing holy books and incorporate them in a recognisable fashion so any follower of an existing dogma will feel included in its message. It needs to be short and simple so it can be quickly translated, accurately translated and cheaply produced by the billion.

What would you keep from the worlds' holy books, secular ideas and humanist values that you would incorporate into 'The Wisdom of our Species'?

Thoughts that came to mind I'm sure you'll add to this.

• Accessible
  Simple language
  Short
  Self consistent
  Inclusive of all
  Strong guidance values
  Finished by the end of 2010
  Practical
  Pragmatic
  Helpful
  Encourages sustainability
  Unifying

Let your mind wander and wonder and put your ideas here please.

Regards
Chris

[CJ]

Introduction

The Wisdom of our Species
We, the people of this world, are good people.
We are the keepers of this world.
We help those in need.
We do no harm.

[CJ]

Choice

• We have free will, we can choose what we do. Every choice has effects on ourselves, those around us and on this world. We are responsible for those effects. Choose carefully and try to choose the path of least harm and most good.

[CJ]

Our World

• This world is our home. There is no other place for us to live.

[Rum]

To borrow from elsewhere - 'first do no harm'.

[AshtonBlack]

To borrow from elsewhere - 'first do no harm'.

Whereas I would go for "First do the least harm."

[Pappa]

To borrow from elsewhere - 'first do no harm'.

Whereas I would go for "First do the least harm."

"First, put the kettle on"?

[Feck]

Don't do stuff to other people that you wouldn't like done to you (unless they are a consenting adult and they ask you to )

[GeneticJen]

• Accessible
  Simple language
  Short
  Self consistent
  Inclusive of all
  Strong guidance values
  Finished by the end of 2010
  Practical
  Pragmatic
  Helpful
  Encourages sustainability
  Unifying

"Don't panic". Book completed.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Let people a thousand years from now look back and say, "this is when they started getting smarter".

[lordpasternack]

There's no point - you'll have the philosopher's nit-picking every statement contesting its validity. Also, with morals, there are no real defininitive "right" answers - so you can't create a nice neat code for that.

By all means, create a book with parables and well-meaning attempts to understand ourselves, and our world and universe - but if there's anything that religion and its holy books ought to have taught us by now it's that we can never dish out something and say that it's now all there is to believe in.

[Shaker]

Ah, you mean something a bit like this?

[JacksSmirkingRevenge]

Annoyingly, there's a wealth of wisdom in the bible. I can see little wrong with most of these:-

http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/good/long.html

[Geoff]

Could we keep all the biblical pr0n in?

[CJ]

Ah, you mean something a bit like this?

Nope nothing like that. Has to be 32 pages + cover and no more. No colour photos either to make it easy to reproduce. No copyright either. Come on people get the ideas coming for a small book to save the world and most of the plants and animals on it!

In addition the book you linked to is Human Knowledge NOT Human Wisdom. Knowledge is moving target, wisdom less so. I contend the world needs a 'Little book of guidance' a starting point from which all humans can go from with the most basic ideas that will keep our species alive on a world worth living on! Come on this is on a dead line we have a little over a year to do it.