Conscience is Human

James George

Out of Bounds

14 April 2024

Conscience is Human

Math is without it

"The concept of 'conscience,' as commonly used in its moral sense, is the inherent ability of every healthy human being to perceive what is right and wrong and, on the strength of this perception, to control, monitor, evaluate and execute their actions." National Institutes of Health 

In this series, I introduced the significance of math in the universe and explained that math prevails in outer and inner space, too. As humans, we seek to know who or what is responsible for everything, and some believe the power of creation is supernatural. I, too, am humbled by what I don't know.

One thing we know about humans is that we have a conscience and the ability to discern right from wrong. However, what are our measures for making such decisions? Humans create systems of governance that constrain and regulate behavior. History reveals that humans are not always kind or fair. Humans invented every form of religion known to us. We fight over it, which is ironic because belief systems are intended to help us know right from wrong. Indeed, mortal combat is wrong.

While sitting in a church pew as a boy, they sang "Onward Christian Soldiers, Marching onto War," I pondered why we are celebrating battle. "With the cross of Jesus going on before! Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe." 

I objected to the thought of having a "royal master." Yet, I accepted the idea of the rule of law as much as I knew about it. 

Darwin suggested that living beings persist by being the fittest, aka, the most powerful. Men are thought to be physically stronger than women. Are they mentally brighter? Physical strength might be an admirable quality in sports, though mental strength matters more in pursuing economic sustainability beyond professional sports. Men have no inherent advantage over women. 

According to psychologist Diane Halpern, "There are differences and similarities in the cognitive abilities of women and men, but there is no data-based rationale to support the idea that either is the smarter or superior sex."

I confess that I was brainwashed throughout my lifetime — by parents and their church, by schools and their preaching and teaching, and by a government claiming superiority over all else. 

In college, I resisted and have been resisting and challenging ever since. I gave up religion in exchange for free thought and the ability to discern right from wrong based on certain guideposts. To me, the best is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. That creation by good human beings stands like math—out of the bounds of human corruption even when it is created by people.

The US Constitution and Bill of Rights are subordinate to the Universal Declaration. In contrast, we, the People, occasionally lose our way, and government by the people fails our moral obligation.

For the believers, it isn't God's fault, it isn't math's fault, it is our fault.