What Are Universal Laws? Are These Laws Good for Everyone?
Do Universal Laws exist? And if they do, what are they? And why send this email on the holiday of Rosh Hashanah?
Rosh Hashanah is a holiday that signifies the beginning of the agricultural year, planting the seeds for the year to come. In this email, I would like to extend an invitation from Mature Peace research Institute to you - planting the seeds of friendships and engagement with peace research.
Would you say yes to receiving emails from us once a month?
We have just began going through the process of thinking through the design and method for the research. It is a massive project that is very exciting, albeit quite challenging.
What if we had the kind of universal laws that are actually good for everyone? The kind of laws that are fundamentally ethical, representing every individual on our planet.
Sounds impossible, laws typically affect different people in different ways, and yet, there are certain theories, global in nature, that have been developed by Immanuel Kant, that are universal because of their immense authority over human beings.
Authority over humanity because these laws are embedded in our DNA, part of our human innate nature that needs a certain activation, or a shift in consciousness, for its ultimate expression.
What could be a part of our DNA that is not only part of every human being but represents the core of our collective success in life?
My research for such a universal global peace theory brought me to Immanuel Kant and the Categorical Imperative's five laws, centered upon the immense worthiness of every individual.
If you think you have heard it before, think again.
After all, it is Immanuel Kant who is arguing for the sake of all of us - and being that he is one of the most advanced, difficult, and complex philosopher - we do listen, again, and this time, with our whole being - body, mind, and soul. (A very Kantian thing to do).
Our world is not a peaceful place, far from it, with too many wars, conflicts, and downright unreasoned behaviors.
One of the most famous theory in the field of International Relations and Peace is the Democratic Peace Theory. The claim of the theory is that democratic nations do not go to war with each other, yet you do recall President Bush using this theory to go to war against Iraq, to 'democratize the nation.'
The issue we must acknowledge is this: if democratic nations go to war with nondemocratic nations, how would that create a model for global peace? What is the nondemocratic nation is learning from this aggressive act of war?
Obviously this is a complicated issue as there is such a thing as freeing up the people of a nation ruled by oppressive regimes (i.e., Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, 2026).
Obviously something is missing in our ability to discuss peace, international relations, and true democracy without getting into wars, divisions, conflicts, and downright hate.
That something is presented in my global theory that is normative and Kantian in nature: Universal Laws that establish peace not a preference, or a good principle, or something to follow when we feel like it (or more accurately, when a ruler feels like it) - peace as a law is a categorical imperative.
Interested to find out how these universal laws are built? How they actually can work in our lives? Join us at Mature Peace Press to receive our monthly quick video or message. We would love to have you!
