Submitted by Martin Foster on Wed, 2006-07-19 17:46.
The Principle
I am intrigued by the discussion. What seems to be lacking is some pragmatic format which incorporates "action or doing".
Numerous goals have been articulated: For example in the "Fourth Principle which is the most urgent which needs addressing, six goals are stated, namely:
1. Enshrine Universal Rights within a framework of planetary citizenship
2. Foster Tolerance as a cornerstone of social interactions
3. Provide for Inclusion and effective Democracy in governance
4. Ensure Equitable Access to life nurturing support
5. Establish Cooperation as a basis for managing global issues and planetary resources
6. Outlaw War and Trade in weapon technologies
The existing planetary scenario is chaotic notwithstanding many deeply concerned and thinking individuals on the planet.
In order to address any one of the above some strategy needs to be formulated.
For example: "6" above
Goal: Outlaw War and Trade in weapon technologies.
This would require formulating a purpose which could be implemented, such as utilizing the UN or the Council for foreign relations or after a relevant survey of attitudes deciding that to attain that goal one would have to dismantle all authoritarian religions. The survey might find that Earths populace continues to clings to the hope of a Messiah returning to save us all and desires a benevolent dictatorship. In which case a purpose would be to re-educate the populace first.
Policies would have to be stated which would require some planetary legal framework. Countries, such as the US, UK, France etc would have to agree to submit and abide by a "Planetary court" which would have at it's disposal and direction the armed forces of the major nations.
Plans to persuade liberal political parties and/or religious institutions that an effective "World Court" is a necessity would have to be set in motion.
Numerous programs and projects would be needed to attain a result.
I'm not too certain what you mean by "Maximize degrees of freedom and potential self-realization of all humans"
Do you see freedom as a scale? For example from abject slavery to full democratic rights?
What do you mean by degrees of freedom? The basis of "Freedom" is having "Power of choice" - without choice their is no freedom.
Also what do you mean by "self-realization"? I sincerely suggest a glossary be attached so that semantics not get in the way of discussion.
Martin Foster - South Africa.