{"id":1351,"date":"2018-06-09T08:30:19","date_gmt":"2018-06-09T08:30:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/?p=1351"},"modified":"2018-06-11T06:56:22","modified_gmt":"2018-06-11T06:56:22","slug":"ace-in-a-moral-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/morality\/ace-in-a-moral-world","title":{"rendered":"ACE in a Moral World"},"content":{"rendered":"

ACE: Adopt \u2013 Combine \u2013 Expand. This is a recurring pattern that I see in many domains. It\u2019s also specifically relevant in morality.<\/span><\/h3>\n

I invented the acronym ACE<\/em>\u00a0a few weeks before writing this text<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

while looking at many patterns and recognizing this underlying blueprint. So, please remain skeptical.<\/p>\n

Nature is a tinkerer, not an engineer.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

How could it be otherwise? Nature always again starts from what is and it has only non-intelligent means at its disposal to take a next step in evolution. Sure enough there is not one bit of evidence for \u2018intelligent design\u2019 within nature. Of what is \u2018above nature\u2019 we cannot scientifically know anything, so we better don\u2019t pretend.<\/p>\n

Back to basics: tinkering through ACE<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This is about the A<\/u>doption of prior functionalities and already existing structures. Then: making new C<\/u>ombinations of these structures, intermingling them and\/or taking something from the environment in the equation. Relevant E<\/u>nhancements complete the picture.<\/p>\n

These enhancements may be subtle, especially at the genetic level. They may also become part of a self-perpetuating pattern through which they get a lot more energy and possibilities to reach new heights.<\/p>\n

I guess some examples can best clarify this.<\/p>\n

A bird\u2019s feathers<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Their function started not as wings, but in temperature regulation. They were adopted and combined with frontal legs towards the new functionality of flying. They got several aerodynamic enhancements in order to facilitate the flying process.<\/p>\n

Oxytocin<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This very ancient hormone (with precursor +\/- 700 million years ago, reptilian age) started as a regulator of water and minerals, was adopted for new jobs in caring for mating and offspring and eventually for wider forms of sociability and morality (caring, fairness to relative strangers). There is still some remnant of water regulation in women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. The combination is with other hormones and brain structures. Obviously, the mammalian reuse required several enhancements to get to the present-day \u2018functionality\u2019, probably achieved by rather minor genetic modifications.<\/p>\n

Shared intentionality<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

At some point in the last million years, a group of our ancestors developed the ability to share mental representations of tasks that two or more of them were pursuing together. In combination with hand dexterity, this led to an ever more sophisticated use of tools which others could learn to use through imitation. Swapping and bartering made technological enhancements ever more \u2018profitable\u2019, bringing the need of fairness at group and even inter-group level. This made \u2018moral trust\u2019 also a valuable commodity.<\/p>\n

Morality in general<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The moral brain is by far the social brain. Mammalian emotional structures in the brain were combined with cognitive structures enabling the understanding of someone else\u2019s state of mind as well as social learning. The external factor of \u2018living in larger groups\u2019 drove evolution to optimize this process. In a self-perpetuating pattern of social requirements to behave more and more intelligently with more and more intelligent partners and rivals, \u2018we\u2019 got in the end quite intelligent indeed. Of course, morality had to follow, as it still does \u2013 not always conveniently \u2013 with new technological requirements.<\/p>\n

Striving for the \u2018better human person\u2019<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It makes sense to me, in an endeavor to enhance morality in general, to push this same principle further on: to A<\/u>dopt what is present (thus preventing unnatural progress), to make new C<\/u>ombinations\u00a0 where needed, and to \u2018E<\/u>nhance\u2019 \u2013 also inasmuch as is needed \u2013 through maybe some technological device. Thus: engineering, as nature has always done, as little as possible.<\/p>\n

BTW: I see in this also principles of optimal change management.<\/p>\n

We all know endeavors to \u2018engineer\u2019 the \u2018better human\u2019\u2026 and the resulting 20th<\/sup> century catastrophes. Nature is here to learn from. ACE may not be the full solution, but I guess it\u2019s something to take into account quite seriously.<\/p>\n

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ACE: Adopt \u2013 Combine \u2013 Expand. This is a recurring pattern that I see in many domains. It\u2019s also specifically relevant in morality. I invented the acronym ACE\u00a0a few weeks before writing this text while looking at many patterns and recognizing this underlying blueprint. So, please remain skeptical. Nature is a tinkerer, not an engineer. Read the full article…<\/a><\/p>\n

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