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The Law of the Earth
Human Rights
Animal Rights
Ecology
Rationality
Upholdment
Forgiveness
How the Law Works
"OK, I'm willing to give this concept a chance. Show me how it works."
Sure thing!
It's very simple - much easier than the systems you're used to.
The following diagram encapsulates the entire structure of the Law. There's nothing hidden or "extra" beyond what you see in this picture. Take a look:
Can you sorta get a feel for how it works?
Let's start at the center, and work our way outwards.
The very center - the Inner Core - is the famous non-harm principle, known as "ahimsa" in the east, and as the "Golden Rule" in the west. There are many ways to word it, but the basic idea is "don't harm others", or "don't treat others in a way that you wouldn't want to be treated yourself."
That's the innermost foundation, and the rest of the Law is built around it.
Make sense so far?
"So far, so good."
Great.
Now the first question we might naturally ask ourselves is how to actually define "harm." Not everyone agrees on what constitutes "harm", right? Furthermore, it's impossible to exist in this world without causing some harm. Perfect ahimsa is not possible 100% of the time in any physical universe.
"That's true. Sometimes our only choices are between one type of harm and another type of harm. So how do we define which types are acceptable, and when, and for whom?"
That's what the next layer - the Outer Core - is for!
This is where the Law expands into 6 sections, called Titles.
There are three main types of harm, each addressed by one of the first 3 Titles, as you can see in this chart:
Each of the first 3 Titles defines what actions are unlawful, showing the Key Value of a Mature Civilization which embodies the avoidance of that type of harm.
Title 1 explains what Sovereignty is, and what constitutes a violation of it.
Title 2 explains what constitutes cruelty to animals.
And Title 3 explains what constitutes unlawful ecological degradation.
Those are the first 3 Titles. They explain ***what*** actions are unlawful.
Make sense so far?
"Keep going."
The second 3 Titles (4, 5, and 6), explain ***how*** the Law is applied - in other words, how to respond when such actions are (or appear to be) committed.
Titles 1, 2, and 3 = what is unlawful.
Titles 4, 5, and 6 = how to respond.
The first 3 are content. The second 3 are application.
Title 4 (Rationality) explains how to determine whether the Law has indeed been violated. You don't want to use some kind of force against someone who isn't actually doing anything wrong, do you? If you want to be sure, then you have to allow the suspected person to explain their resonaing for doing what they're doing, and evaluate their arguments rationally, by respecing the Principles of Reason. Title 4 explains what those are.
Title 5 (Upholdment) explains how to approach, and if necessary, apprehend, the perpetrator, once it's certain that a crime is in commission. It outlines the protocols to respond proportionally - because there are different degrees of severity of crime, and you wouldn't want to overreact and use extreme force against a small infraction, would you?
And finally, Title 6 (Forgiveness) explains the importance of rehabilitating perpetrators, and reintegrating them back into society - and the process for doing so. It affirms the goal of healing offenders, rather than perpetuating endless cycles of retribution. Vengeance has no value and is not a justification for punishment in and of itself. Force should only be used insofar as it protects, and no further than that. This section explains the healing process, and how to confirm whether it has taken place.
Make sense?
"Sure. Keep going. What are the Mantle and Crust for?"
The Mantle is an expansion of the Core. It explains the further (but still very basic) concepts that are necessary for making the Core "work" in actual practice.
Everything in the Mantle is derived from the Core. And neither of them can be altered, beyond cosmetic changes (like grammar). In the event that some new issue or technological development arises, and requires a new principle to address it, the Mantle can be added to, to encompass that new principle - but nothing that's already in the Mantle can ever be subtracted.
And if anything that's added to the Mantle conflicts with what's in the Core, then the contradictory Mantle material is null and void.
"What about the Crust?"
The Crust is what you might call "legislation." It's created by governments: Villages, Townships, Cities, Regions, and so-forth. Its purpose is to lay out the specific details of how the Core/Mantle are applied, in specific situations. It can vary from place to place, as needed.
However...
...and this is very very important...
The Crust MUST conform to the Core and Mantle. If it doesn't, then it's NOT LAW.
Any Crustal material (man-made legislation) is NULL AND VOID if it contradicts the deeper layers.
In each and every arbitration (a.k.a. "court case" or "hearing" or "deliberation"), the Crustal material the person has been accused of violating MUST be compared to the Mantle and Core principles from which its derivation is claimed.
The accusing party/judge/court must provide a justification for why the Crust material is valid - by showing that it proceeds logically from the Mantle and Core. This justification must be Rational (it must conform to Title 4: Rationality).
This is not optional.
There must be open debate on any and all aspects of the Core and Mantle, should any party wish it.
And if the code conflicts with anything in the Core or Mantle, then that code is legally null and void, and may not be used as justification to harm anyone or use any kind of force or threat thereof upon anyone.
The Law of the Earth provides enough flexibility to local governing units, via their ability to edit the Crust within their jurisdiction, while simultaneously providing a solid foundation in true Natural Law, which none of those units can change.
This is the only sane way to run a society, when you think about it.
And again, if you have philosophical objections to the concept of Natural Law, you can visit the Objections page.
"OK, and what's in these 6 Titles?"
You can read their contents by clicking "Text of the Law" from the main menu at the top or bottom of each page.
Thank you for being open-minded and sane! :)
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