| In a previous article, we discussed the "Order of | | | | But every once in a while, we see someone who zips |
| Probabilities" which governs our universe, material | | | | through on a red light and he does seem to arrive |
| universe, that is. | | | | even faster still. Sure. If we all did that, chances are, |
| We observed that the universe came with a set of | | | | no one will be able to arrive to their destination in the |
| "Rules" of Physics, mathematics, with certain amount | | | | first place. The Order can accept deviation. An |
| of certainty, uncertainty and chaos, which combined | | | | improbable, rarely-occurring deviation, just like a |
| govern the workings and interactions between all | | | | mutation. And just like mutations are necessary for |
| matter, energy and bodies, large or small. | | | | evolution, deviation from the system are also |
| That these rules come in the form of "possible" | | | | necessary because they eventually teach us new |
| paths for all things to happen. And because there are | | | | ways to doing things. Ninety Nine point nine nine nine |
| always so many paths for any single event, that we | | | | percent of the time, these deviations, would be as |
| have to describe our universe in terms of | | | | unsuccessful as genetic mutations leading to a |
| "Probability", that certain paths are more probable to | | | | deformed embryo or a child who suffers from a |
| be taken than others. And as V would say, in the | | | | hereditary disease. But every once in a while, these |
| masterpiece, "V for Vendetta", "There is no | | | | deviation serve to give us a new way of doing things |
| Certainty, only Opportunity". | | | | better! |
| But even if the odds are extremely high for a certain | | | | I like to define "good" as whatever works on the |
| path, other paths are also possible and they are | | | | long term achieving a balance between self-interest |
| occassionally taken, less frequently, but they do | | | | and others interests. Our social experience has |
| eventually occur. This seeming chaos is responsible | | | | provided us with a set of values, behaviors, norms, |
| for the way the universe evolved, for life and | | | | religious teachings and even laws defining what is |
| evolution on this earth. | | | | "good" and what is "not". But what is "good"? How |
| Genetic mutation, is an occurence whereby "an error" | | | | did we know what is good and what is not? It |
| takes place during the process of making genetic | | | | basically comes in a social context, marking those |
| "copies". This error, is an example of an improbable | | | | values and behaviors which the society finds |
| path. Such error could be responsible for a hereditary | | | | acceptable and supporting to its survival (survival |
| disease suffered by the off-spring, or a deformed | | | | again, as an order of evolution), as good. I had earlier |
| baby or a miscarriage. But this genetic "error" is also | | | | mentioned a "balance" between self-interest and that |
| responsible for giving birth to a new specie in the | | | | of the society, a balance between an individual's |
| evolution process. And as errors mount and | | | | survival and the group's survival. But the more the |
| accumulate over a period of about a billion years, life | | | | person sacrifices his own interest, trades his own |
| forms went through a tedious process of selection | | | | survival for that of the "Group's", the more good, the |
| and evolution, and from where we stand today, Man | | | | better, he or she is, until that person becomes a |
| emerged as an intelligent being, capable of inventing | | | | "hero", foregoing all self-interest and sacrificing all for |
| networked computers which enable you to read this | | | | the well-being of the society. On the other hand, the |
| article (!), coming at the end, so far that is, of a chain | | | | person who focuses only on his or her own interests, |
| which probably started with a single cell amoeba. | | | | survival, neglecting interests of the group, sabotaging |
| But if there are there pre-defined "paths" for | | | | "survival" of the group, that person is deemed "bad" |
| everything to happen? Where would "our choice" fit | | | | and "evil" and self-serving. |
| into this? Or did such "Order" lay out zillions of | | | | So, the essence is, continue being good to your |
| "potential" paths, each presenting "opportunity to | | | | neighbor. Pay your taxes. Be nice to other people, |
| happen", "probability to occur"? Can one "improve | | | | even if sometimes you meet people who despite |
| such probabilities"? Is that it? Is this what it is all | | | | being evil to their neighbors and big-time offenders, |
| about? That we just have pre-defined paths, and all | | | | yet they seem to be happy and rise to high offices |
| we can do is to work really hard to make our | | | | of power, wealth and fame. When you meet such |
| "chosen path" more probable than others? | | | | exceptions, such error cases, do not get alarmed or |
| Can we absolve ourselves of "responsibility" then, | | | | disheartened. The "Order" is still there. It still works. |
| since the limit of our responsibility is to make desired | | | | But it does not work every time in the same way. |
| "outcomes" more probable, not more probable than | | | | Do not be frustrated such that you start scratching |
| "undesired" results, but as more probable as | | | | your neighbor's fender! These rare exception are a |
| compared to their original chance, if we were not | | | | part of the Order of Probability. It is like when you |
| there to influence such chance? | | | | go gambling. The odds are that you will always lose |
| If we can accept, that the limit of our abilities, is to | | | | money on the gambling table. So, you would better |
| merely improve the probabilities, can we live and | | | | not gamble, except perhaps for fun. But you do see |
| function as happier human beings, more in harmony | | | | people who gamble and clean the house collecting |
| with ourselves, with others, and with the universe | | | | huge wins! It does happen, but it is highly unlikely and |
| which surrounds us, the universe which we can not | | | | most probably unsustainable! You can think of this as |
| change or alter in any significant way. Is this | | | | a high-risk investment or a dangerous sport. It is |
| something we can accept? Or will this lead to us | | | | enjoyable, and some people win, but more often |
| falling in the trap of being victims of our | | | | than not, those who go down that path eventually |
| circumstances? | | | | lose. |
| When it comes to morality, we have always been | | | | The morale of the article is that individuals should |
| told that if you do good, behave yourself and be | | | | continue to observe the "Order" so that they |
| good to your neighbor, you will be rewarded with | | | | maximize the probability of meeting favorable |
| good consequences. You go to heavens. In New-age | | | | outcomes, always developing a "good Karma" if you |
| religions, where rewards take place in this life, you | | | | like. |
| live a happy and healthy life achieving harmony and | | | | Goodness will probably prevail, as per definition |
| inner peace. Evil behavior and crime do not pay. But | | | | above, and life will most likely be fair. But do not get |
| every once in a while, we see the opposite taking | | | | disheartened when you find that life ocassionally is |
| place. Crime sometimes pay. In many situations, evil | | | | not fair. You just hit an unlucky streak and it is likely |
| behavior goes unpunished. Some people practically | | | | to change soon. Things will just have to get better, in |
| get away with murder. | | | | compliance with the Order of this universe. |
| When this happens, it just demotivates us. We have | | | | Blessed be the Order, which gives existence, life, |
| learned that when we all respect the traffic laws, | | | | meaning and Good Probabilities! |
| everyone will arrive faster and streets will be safer. | | | | |