Natural Laws - What Do We Think and How do We Act?

    I was having some thought-provoking conversation and thoughts yesterday, the day after the national election where Donald J. Trump swept the country's ballots and caused some consternation, heartache, and tears among quite a few folks, some of whom that I know and care for. So, going on 24 hours later, here goes:

    Natural Laws --

    Over the courses of human thought and history, there are many laws that are considered natural. Laws and principles, "truths", if you will, that are constant, evident, provable, or at least fundamental to scientists, scholars, academic pundits, philosophers, religious magnates, potentates of all sorts, and punks like yours truly, who have pondered and analyzed many of these laws. Both natural and artificial laws are worthy of debate. Which are which? Let's discuss.

    In the world of the hard sciences, that proclaim empirical evidence that we can or should all understand, respect, and follow, we have physics, chemistry, biology, and the other mathematical and natural laws that we must obey, most of the time. Gravity, energy, entropy, life, death, evolution, language, food, pecking orders, money, power... Well, the social sciences, of which I slid into, are not as firm as the hard ones, the quantitative versus the qualitative realms. But not to say there are not constants and truths among the social worlds of economics, sociology, psychology, even religion and spiritual matters. The so-called soft or intangible arts of faith and hope and even conjecture are places of laws and norms, phenomena that we can analyze and codify. Of course, there can be guesswork among the natural or hard sciences, too. Theoretical concepts and hypotheses, and even some established laws, all can be bent or cast askance over time and perspective.

    Like, for example, climate change and global warming. Some think that they can prove that it is not happening. Some think that maybe the earth and temperatures are going up, but that the temperatures will naturally drop again, as ice ages drop the Fahrenheit or warming up periods happen over the millennia. But, and however, and although, and a big smacking therefore: most (Yes, I do put "most" again in here in parentheses, to emphasize the obvious, and obviate the common sense) of the scientific, empirical world knows that human development and fossil fuel emissions and pollution is causing global warming, and climates are and will change.

    Yes. We believe. It is a combination of the hard sciences and the ethereal. Climate change is happening. It can be both an exercise in practical empirical -- observe through the senses, plus math and other grown-up faculties, like reason and physics and laws based on scientific evidence.

    Emissions caused by humans, and some cows, which are pushed more by humans, are heating up the planet. And, we as humans have to look at solving these issues for the good of the present and the future.

    Questions? I hope so, because the test has been upon us for decades and decades.

    We need solutions, not just 'drill, baby drill!' You are 78 years-old Mr. Soon-to-be-Commander-in-Chief. Your grandchildren and beyond will resent you greatly if you do not take a few measures to save the planet. This is not rocket science, but it is real science.

    What else about laws? Natural, physical, spiritual, emotional, moral...

    Most of the laws of all kinds, whether we believe them to be primordial and elemental like gravity and energy, or more artificially constructed. Like legal statures and strictures. No speeding. No types of certain chemicals. Underage drinking prohibitions. Murder, not smiled upon. And taxes. 

    There are moral parameters. Old people do not mix intimately with young people. There are sexual mores, social taboos, racial offenses and ethnic improprieties. There are measures and expectations of respect at all levels. Defer to elders, or obey authorities, or cater to and care for the weak and infirm.

    All religions and all cultures have imperatives, guidelines, traditions, standards.

    Governments and movements, progressions and evolutions.

    So, so, so.

    Which laws do we believe in? Which rules should we follow? Natural laws makes all the sense in the world, in the universe. The planets and stars follow these rules, as far as we know.

    Us humans, our primordial laws are to protect ourselves and propagate the species.

    Are we killing ourselves through killing the environment, ending the very planet that has provided us life for millions of years? 

    Laws and the Forefathers

    We know that the founding fathers of the United States were not perfect. Many of them owned people. All of them were white, and male, and mostly wealthy. However, but, and therefore most indubitably: they put together a Constitution and ratified a system that is quite impressive, and adaptive. It can be changed by the consent of those that uphold it! The U.S. Constitution is a living document, not one etched and rigidly set in stone. Although, there is something to be said about the Ten Commandments.

    We have amendments and balances of powers, and rights and parameters to avoid abuse and misuse. Not perfect, but worth defending and even at times fighting and dying for.

    Contrasted and compared with...

    Traditional native forefathers and mothers

    Look at our ancient ancestors, far and wide, many of them forgotten or marginalized today in modern times. They lived in all climates and all regions, all topographies and all ethnic backgrounds. They did not, by and large, exhaust their resources nor pollute and contaminate the earth or waters. They lived and cohabitated with their surroundings. Again, there was never a perfect society, except maybe that of the City of Enoch. And that is left to conjecture, as is God and nirvana and holiness and eternity and life on other planets, or perhaps on the moons within our solar system. Or out in distant Kolob.

    

    And the questions for all of us remain: which laws are natural? Which are humanly constructed, manufactured, and have no place among us?

    Does the fetus of any animal have rights to be developed and born? Is that a given part of the unspoken circle of life and natural laws? Many eggs are consumed and digested by others, thus producing a continuous part of the life and vibrancy of the greater world, the life that finds its way in all climes and eras. 

    Does sexual activity and behavior need to be controlled and tempered, among humans, pets, domestic breeds and within the wild? Do we let the praying mantis or black widow maintain its murderous ways of production after mating? This is nature, this is what has become of the survival of the races.

    Do humans have to allow for the place of all the other species? Do humans have to look out for the downgraded and suffering? What laws do we enact and enforce in order to sustain and prosper all; or do we only look out for the lucky few?

    How do we draft and execute our laws and standards?

    Can we practice the Golden, or even the Platinum Rules? Can we do better to ourselves, to the lowly, to the cleanliness of our world and its amazing generative powers? The air, the land, the waters? What about our poor and needy? What about our minorities and those that suffer from mental, spiritual, and moral conundrums and stigmas?

    I do not have all the answers, but I know it worth posing the questions and scrutinizing the possibilities. 

    What laws are natural that we must respect and enforce, or maintain, and what laws are worth abandoning?

    Which laws are the most valid? Most of us think, act, and engage in these laws every day. 

    Are laws meant to be abrogated, mitigated, broken, and punishment meted out for their violations?

    How do we obey the rules of law?

    How do we weight them, one versus the other? Stay free and discuss. That is part of the solution. Democracy must be part of the solution and overall program. Informed scientists and experts, too.

    Evidence and good faith need to continue to move forward. We only have so much sovereignty and power.

    Collectively and individually, we have to act and voice our consciousnesses. May it ever be so. 

    This is our social contract as humans, this will be our law.