The Moral Society
Preface

The human race is on the verge of suicide. It is my purpose to show that this is the case and to present a rational alternative to death. This is, therefore, a plan and a justification for human survival. I say "justification" because survival is not an end in itself. It will be shown that happiness without purpose and security without awareness are self-defeating goals that must be abandoned if human evolution is to continue.

Evolution is not only the key to human survival; it is the avatar of the meaning of life. Noble efforts to show that this is the case were made by Francis Bacon, Spinoza, Goethe, H. G. Wells, Teilhard de Chardin, Julian Huxley and others. However, these efforts failed to show little more than a goal toward which man could and should evolve. Purpose without method cannot be sustained. I shall, therefore, speak of a way to achieve the goals of these men.

The context of this book is the context of political, scientific and technical reality. The book should accordingly be judged on the same basis as any scientific theory — on how well it works. I make no claims to novelty or originality. What is presented is a synthesis of common knowledge in the form of a plan for ethical action. It will be shown that ethical action is the only end and that human survival is its logical consequence.

Eventually a single pattern will emerge which unifies ethics, science, evolution and socio-political action.

The book is simply written. Very little technical or scientific terminology is used. I have tried to make the gestalt of unified human experience explain the individual complexities. Therefore, no part of the book stands alone; a person wishing to understand fully any part must try to understand all parts until the gestalt is complete. The best way to perceive the pattern is to read through the book quickly without getting "bogged down" in details.

The book is divided into four mutually-supporting parts. Part One lays the philosophical basis for the plan in Part Three. Part Two specifies current conditions, constraints and the dangers of not implementing the plan. Part Four integrates the entire book. The Glossary is included as an aid to the reader because many words are used in a highly specific sense. It was decided not to footnote statements of fact unless the facts were of an esoteric nature. This was done to be brief and not give the deceptive appearance of "scholarliness" to what is primarily a book of speculation. However, all statements of fact can be documented and are supported by the Bibliography. (Web note: Footnotes were incorporated into the text unless the content also appears in Glossary, in which case they were removed.)

Whatever errors are in the book are solely my responsibility; the virtues I owe to many persons. I would, therefore, like to express my gratitude to those who have had a direct, immediate influence on my work. Foremost among these is my friend Humberto Fernandez-Moran. Our infrequent but always stimulating conversations during the last year were among the principal reasons why this book was written. My friend Sandra Hass served as editor, gadfly and typist on the manuscript. I owe much to her. I wish to acknowledge gratefully the abundant feedback from Frank M. Graves and many others on the early drafts of the manuscript. Finally, I would like to thank my beloved wife Bernice, who has been my personal catalyst.

John David Garcia
Washington, D.C.

July, 1970

 

 

We are given to boasting of our age being an age of Science! And if we are thinking merely of the dawn compared to the darkness that went before, up to a point we are justified. Something enormous has been born in the universe with our discoveries and our methods of research. Something has been started which, I am convinced, will now never stop. Yet though we may exalt research and derive enormous benefit from it, with what pettiness of spirit, poverty of means and general haphazardness do we pursue truth in the world today! Have we ever given serious thought to the predicament we are in?

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
THE PHENOMENON OF MAN

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© John David Garcia, 1971, All rights Reserved.