Ethics-Archived

Introduction

The purest reality is the conscious and free reality, meaning it can realize and state itself as well as causing itself. Yet that knowledge alone is not enough in our philosophical journey, and now arises the question, what is all of this for? Perhaps reality is indeed the spirit capable of awareness, speech, change, and so on, but without knowing the purpose and utility of this knowledge which is also our true reality, it is useless. As such, before delving deeper into philosophy, we must explore what is named ethics.

Life

Ethics, the word, came from the word ethos in Greek which means a set of ideals or guide which becomes the direction of a nation. In philosophical context, ethics refer to the human meaning of life and what must be done to achieve a “good” life or be a true human. Of course in an absolute logical perspective, we are in truth describing mechanics and not purposes. However for the purpose of understanding and language, the term of purpose shall be used.

The question of ethics comes back to the definition of what is “good”, and this refers to the purpose of reality or the meaning of life. Of course what is good is that which fulfills the purpose of reality, and what is bad is what is against that purpose. The problem is that if we do not know the purpose, then all other things are meaningless. The good news is that the purpose of reality can be found with just the knowledge of consciousness and freedom.

The purpose of an object lies on what becomes the essence or basis of such object, or what could be said as the “design” of the object. Purpose here is different from human purpose, rather a determined mechanic of reality (though it is just as determined in the case of humans). That is the direction of change that happens. An exampe is a star, stars by nature are lumps of gas that condenses and in its core happens a process of nuclear fusion which produces energy in the form of heat and light. As such the purpose of a star is to be “a star” as said. In this sense purpose is not a problem of choice, rather of a final mechanics.

Based on the identity of reality as consciousness and freedom, the purpose of reality is not far off. That is to be conscious and free over itself, that is the purpose of reality. It is a certainty that reality shall be conscious and free, but what is the meaning of it? For that matter we must speak a little in human context. To be aware is to experience, understand, and know what happens and what is there in this world. Such that the concrete purpose of reality is to learn, experience life, and understand this world as ourselves.

Of course practical knowledge or skill is necessary in the fulfillment of ethics. For example cooking, we know not only how to cook, but we are also capable of cooking. The same goes for philosophy, we not only know it but also able to practice it in real life. However there is one other element of reality that is freedom. Freedom is somewhat different from mere awareness and requires more explanation.

If consciousness refers to the ability of statement and self observation, then freedom refers to the capabilities of self change. Freedom in a mechanical context is the capability to set one’s own direction in the mechanics of life. Though more accurately is describing freedom as the capability to change oneself, free and independent of external parties. Of course freedom means we can change without being affected by external things, and we can define the direction of change, but how must it happen?

True freedom is to change ourselves according to our true self that is the entity of reality. And since the entity of reality is of consciousness and freedom, then what must be the direction of change is freedom and consciousness itself. We must change something for freedom itself, or to increase freedom and consciousness. For one the act of acquiring skill and knowledge is and directed to achieve a higher consciousness and freedom.

In this matter it can be concluded that consciousness and freedom are two things that are almost identical. The difference is if consciousness is a condition then freedom is the act to reach that condition (process), or the capability of making that act. Figuratively, the free condition is the living condition or life. For life is one of the highest manifestations of freedom in reality, as shown in direct consciousness by humans.

As such the complete goal of reality is to study and understand reality itself. Then to change existing reality for the progress of consciousness itself and to increase the freedom of reality. In concrete terms, humanity lives, experience life, give meaning in life, and progress life from not knowing to knowing. From unfree to free, for the sake of freedom and consciousness itself as the fulfillment of the true human nature. What of the condition of unfreedom?

Death

So far we have spoke of ethics as a mere world mechanic, disregarding the free will within reality. That reality does not contain only what is right or good, but also what is not good, that is wrong and bad. These things are the opposite of life and ethics, that is death and unfreedom. Death, for dead things are things that are not free. Its movements are caused by other objects which are not dead, and its freedom determined by living things. In short, death and sin are all things that opposes freedom and consciousness.

The condition of being unaware and not knowing is the lightest form of death, which is the initial condition. Yet it is also the most essential form of death, as without knowledge nothing can be done. The same can be said when we have no knowledge of reality then we can not do anything, even say, about reality. Without consciousness, freedom is impossible and it is the most severe of deaths. As we do not even know the death that chains us.

The unfree condition is the form of death equal in scale but different in category to the condition of ignorance. In this sense, being unfree means we act not according to our nature as the entity of reality. We act not according to freedom and consciousness, but according to something else. In reality there are many elements and objects, but only one essence. Being unfree means to act not according to essence but according to specifics. One example are hedonists who live in the name of pleasure alone and not freedom.

When one lives in the influence of death, they will stop at the specific goal and not move anymore. It is possible their life will be directed towards that one element only and disregard all other elements. If there is no change, say by other creatures, then they may lose awareness on other things. As they only focus on one object only of reality, and thus forms what is called attachment. From attachment emerges stagnation and finally pure death.

Is attachment to life possible? It is possible, but to attach and serve under freedom and consciousness will automatically make us detached. For freedom and consciousness are the purposes that forbid attachment, and we will be continuously driven towards a higher freedom and consciousness. Attachment towards life shall liberate and attachment outside of life shall kill. Stagnation as the consequence of attachment that deviates from freedom is a trademark of death.

One may ask of the existence of death, why is there death if the world is by essence alive? Reality and life is not defined as merely the condition of awareness but also the capability to change that awareness into a higher state. As reality can determine its own existence, and as such can change. Freedom as the process of change implies a better and worse condition. A free change is the change from the worse that is unfree towards the better that is free. Yes there is no pure death, as the existence of reality is the most basic trait of life. However there is something more alive than mere existence, and death refers more to things far from freedom, while life things close to freedom.

Wholeness of Life

The next question is at a glance, a dilemma. If freedom demands us to realize and rule all things, does it not mean that we must realize the evil things as well? As if freedom demands us to approach those that further ourselves away from that freedom. If so, is not all things on this earth good as they as and must be glorified as well? It is true that even the most deplorable of sin must be realized as the fulfillment of freedom, or even the worst of sufferings. To reach life, we must understand and experience death as well.

However it must be understood that experiencing death is not equal to surrendering before death. To be aware of and rule death is not the same with stopping at death. Because true death is when we attach to it, and never change from death. While freedom does not only demand awareness, but also power over the dead. Thus we do not stop with realizing death, but also change it into what is life. As such what is more valuable is change and not just the results of change.

Of course in the “dilemma” of life and death does not mean we can chase death at all costs and use freedom as a justification. There is a time for death, but if the current death is still unresolved how can we chase other deaths? The point of freedom is not to chase death, but accept and be aware of death as an inseparable part of reality and in extension ourself. For many people try to avoid death and treat it as an inherently despicable thing. This attachment towards life is not free either, as we run from reality.

On the other hand, what we must do is not reject death or bow before death. Death as an object of reality deserves equal treatment according to the principle of freedom, that is to be realized and ruled. We realize death as something that is not right, not what must be, and to rule it is to change it into what is right and in concordance with freedom itself. As such to bow before death is inequal to realizing death, where one is death and one is life.

In truth chasing death on purpose for change is not completely wrong, as freedom means to realize and rule on purpose (by our own will). However chasing death does not mean chasing blindly, by will of death (attachment), or without order. As within ethics there is a hierarchy of freedom that must be fulfilled in order to achieve true freedom.

Ethical hierarchy here means the the order of knowledge or experience according to ontology or essence. Ontology meaning of being, thus higher things hierarchically exist before others. Essence is the same, but refers to the “essentiality” of a knowledge as part of the truth of reality. Though a hierarchy, all things in this hierarchy are equal in degree, meaning all must be treated the same, that is to be realized and ruled.

On the highest level is of course the knowledge of the purest reality. Or the realization and rule over the law of freedom and consciousness. The positioning of this law is very logical and should not be questioned. To achieve freedom, knowledge of freedom and why is required first. Without such awareness, all other awareness are impossible as they all hinge on the existence of reality, consciousness, and freedom. Only after freedom is realized can all other things realized and ruled as well.

The second level are all things good that supports freedom. This level is still connected to the first level that is pure freedom. The difference is that in the second level we chase practical and more complete freedoms. If at first our freedom is only theoretical and essential, we know search for the practical and specific. Practical freedom refers to social and empirical issues. As such it can also be said as empirical freedom, where we chase empirical knowledge for the sake of the consciousness and freedom of the world.

It is true that in the search of practical freedom we will encounter death, and we will realize and understand that death. However that death will become a mere stepping stone to achieve that freedom and not our main goal. While we might talk of death, it is only part of the journey to reach complete and practical freedom. Once practical freedom is achieved, that is the whole equality between reality and freedom, we can begin the third level of fulfillment of reality.

The last step that is the very last in hierarchy but equal to all others is the pursuit of death. While the main purpose is still freedom, but this time we realize and understand death more completely. Before we experience death but have not fully understood death as there is knowledge that we lack. With a more complete knowledge, we can understand the condition of death more complete as well. It is true that this time we realize death for the sake of realizing death itself, but in the end we still do this for the sake of a more complete life.

Aside from ethical hierarchy, there is also the ethical cycle which becomes a sort of common pattern within reality. It is called so as it never ends and is infinite. Though if we look at the whole there is a cycle which stops and never repeats, but that is not our topic of discussion for now. The first step of this cycle is death, but not just any death rather the purest death. Where we are not even aware of our death, and this is the most severe and dangerous of deaths. Yet it is not eternal and from initial death begins the process towards freedom.

Next is the realization of death itself, that is we are still ruled by death but we begin to understand it, that it is not what must be. Awareness can happen without rule, as will be discussed in another time. Regardless, awareness of death is significant as it is what enables us to rule and change death in the first place. Only after awareness of death rule and change of death can be done.

The change of death can be said as the main manifestation of freedom, that is the change of death to life. How the mechanics work is not our problem now, what is certain is as according to the definition of death and life, we unleash the shackles that choke us and be liberated. From the beginning of being ruled by it, we now rule it and then free it from its own shackles. It then continues forever until we truely experience life.

Life, is not the final condition in this cycle, as life here is merely a condition of higher freedom compared to the initial death. While there may be an absolute life, such as an almost absolute death, life here refers to higher freedom and not absolute. Life by nature is the awareness and rule of self meaning from the beginning we already realize life, and the next step that is awareness of life happens in parallel. Of course after that is the change or development of life into an even more free condition. Then the cycle repeats without end and without bound.

As such it is indeed true that to reach true freedom, even death must be celebrated. Yet death is not our final destination, rather a means of achieving life itself. And life is not an end either, rather a new beginning in the ethical development of reality. As said, what must be seeked is still the law of freedom and all things must be done under that law. Only then all other things can be pursued, for the law of freedom is our true nature.

Closing

With this discussion we can conclude several important things, that ethics is the goal of reality for all creatures as well as a formulation of our true self. This goal is based upon the essence of reality as a sovereign freedom and consciousness, as such the goal is to be free and conscious over all things in this world. To achieve that reality is to be free, rule, and reign over ourselves. And to run from reality is to die, be ruled, and be enslaved by reality. Yet to be enslaved and realize it is necessary, as a stepping stone to liberate ourselves from such slavery. With the first freedom, all things can be achieved. God bless.

Dismissed in preparation of a more complete writing.