Colour Convention Ultimate values are universally-sought experiential states. Examples of ultimate values will be in green e.g. peace. Goodness (in orange) refers either to spiritual energy or to a conception of what humans most desire in spiritual terms. Goodness (in green) refers to a specific ultimate value. Terms in purple refer to Channels in the Framework-Tree of Intentionality.
Using the Primal Injunctions
Ultimate values-L7 are often optional, unlike more concrete values (e.g. priorities-L3). However, you can always use your freedom and exercise humanity's option to produce goodness—that is what this framework is about.
As just explained, the presence of spiritual energy is experienced as goodness entering our everyday life and projects. That goodness is produced by applying ultimate values to our situations. In order to do so, we use Vehicles for Goodness-R"G1 derived directly from the Primal Injunctions. These are formally the Monads-R"G1 in the Structural Hierarchy-RsH".
All values are bipolar. So ultimate values can certainly be bad or evil e.g. anger, revenge, hatred, fear, terror, greed, envy. However, the energies of values are not bipolar—the relevant type of energy is simply directed to bad ends. It would be absurd to say "goodness is used for bad ends". The phrasing would be "spiritual energy is used for bad ends" and that is certainly possible.
However, I am not producing a manual for evil villains seeking world domination, so I do not focus on enjoyment from gloating, or helping by embedding fear, or exertions to exact revenge. This framework is about directing spiritual energies in the service of goodness. So when I talk about ultimate values, positive examples are generally assumed. It seemed natural and helpful to use goodness as a synonym for their energy.
Primal Injunction → Vehicle of Goodness
Primal Injunctions are adjusted here, one by one, to serve a role as special vehicles that can carry the energies of goodness following activation of ultimate values.
Primal Injunctions emerge from willing obedience in the service of goodness. The rules do not have an «opposite» as such: they are followed or ignored. By contrast, production of goodness emerges from our freedom in regard to choosing values and there is an «opposite». You are free to choose positive ultimate values like peace and kindness or to apply negative ones like revenge and hatred. The vehicles are themselves neutral in that regard. Only positive-good values are used in the examples offered for each vehicle, because that is the present concern.
More focus on the Vehicles-R"G1 might be expected in the wisdom literature. Although identified by all thinkers and scriptures, they attract less public attention. Perhaps this is because they are mechanisms and lack charismatic spirituality on their own. I tentatively propose calling them «existential virtues».
R"L1-See Unity → Unification-R"G17
When you put spiritual energy into seeing unity-R"L7, you have the possibility to make unity happen. Unification-R"G17 may apply in many situations, but especially where you find yourself in unhelpful conflict.
So: Unification is a natural vehicle for applying ultimate values like beauty, which could stop you seeing yourself as clean-pure and others as ugly-dirty; or patience, which can be essential for resolving disputes and enabling coexistence between groups. More ►
The effect of unification is to generate a wholeness and completeness. The social effects include harmony, reconciliation and synergy. Where ideas or theories are unified, there is usually a sense of beauty or elegance. Unifying your efforts with goodness keeps projects enlightened.
The neglect of unification is to fragment, split, polarize, maintain differences unnecessarily, or create new differences. It leads to a separation of goodness and even ethics from most activities; or allocated as the concern of others.
R"L6-Heed What's Right → Submission-R"G16
When you put spiritual energy into heeding what's right-R"L6, you make it possible to submit yourself to matters outside your control and personal desires. Submission-R"G16 is a function of our necessary existence within social groups. It also arises whenever you confront what is «absolutely desirable»: as will be specified later in this framework.
So: Applying peace will inhibit being opinionated and dogmatic or rushing to negative criticism of expedient choices. Applying hope will inhibit pessimistic reactions to objectively bad and unavoidable social situations. More ►
The effect of submission is to become capable of putting something before or above your egocentric wishes. Submission contributes to restraint rather than impulsive or compulsive reactions.
The neglect of submission means a weak code of conduct and impulsiveness, situationally expedient choices, or rejection of constraints. Submission is anathema to those with persistent attitudes of entitlement and superiority.
You might also recognize submission as the only response to the inevitable, the irresistible or the unchangeable—qualities that characterize nature and society as well as specific persons you come across. However, this is a compound notion dealing with «accepting reality». Submission often confuses people ► more clarification.
R"L5-Do Your Best → Exertion-R"G15
When you put spiritual energy into doing your best-R"L5, you make it possible to add something extra that is not specifically called for by the immediate situation. This means exertion-R"G15.
So: It might involve applying ultimate values like fairness or delight and doing things, often small or subsidiary to your main goals, in accord with these. Exertion could be called «work», but in the special sense of «putting in effort», not in reference to doing a job. More ►
The effect of exertion is that you focus on a source of goodness that might not otherwise be operative because the value lies outside your project, group or doctrine. Often the exertion is not a challenge, being of short time duration or just rather simple. But it may be demanding in that the effort is for something beyond your immediate concerns.
The neglect of exertion results in a half-hearted engagement with situations, mediocrity, and a sinking of individuality into group convention. Incentives may increase activity without generating the necessary exertion in the service of ultimate values. Charging for such extras typically reduces the goodness even if the recipient is grateful.
R"L4-Care about Others → Helpfulness-R"G14
When you put spiritual energy into caring about others-R"L4, you have the possibility of using a relationship to make a difference for that person. This is experienced as helpfulness-R"G14.
So: Applying an ultimate value like freedom in a relationship will be helpful if it means that the other's uniqueness is appreciated and any hint of domination is avoided; while applying strength reduces or removes your fears of being exploited or manipulated in helpful interactions. More ►
The effect of helpfulness is to develop a benevolent relationship that will strengthen any existing relationship, whether transient, familial, employment, or friendship.
The neglect of helpfulness makes it likely that the other person will be viewed superficially, instrumentally or as a category. It is also the road to endless egocentric fighting over status, identity, money, power, turf, control, and lust.
R"L3-Become Aware → Knowing-R"G13
When you put spiritual energy into becoming aware-R"L3, you have the possibility to intuitively understand a situation, and also imagine what is needed for a deeper understanding. This means knowing-R"G13 with a degree of conviction that enables committed action.
So: Applying humor to understanding allows contradictions and ignorance to emerge. Applying simplicity to knowing can help avoid the foolishness of egocentric pedantry and excessive complexity—it probably led to Occam creating his Razor. More ►
The effect of knowing is to ensure you listen to yourself and then do not let yourself get seduced off your position. The ultimate values relevant in the situation can help you combat misunderstanding and prevent you sowing confusion or perpetrating falsehoods.
The neglect of knowing via ultimate values puts you at the mercy of opinion, rumour, gossip, and conventional wisdom. It also tempts you to succumb to your own fears, wishes and reflex responses.
R"L2-Hold Ideals → Aspiration-R"G12
Holding ideals-R"L2 is an unusual Injunction because ideals already include ultimate values.
Vehicles for goodness differ from ideals in that they are not about adapting to society or its politics. Aspirations are like ideals in being directed towards better conditions, but when you put spiritual energy into holding ideals-R"L2, you generate the possibility to seek genuine and universal goodness, which is humanity's highest aspiration-R"G12.
So: Applying humility via aspirations will ensure arrogance is kept in check; while applying kindness via aspirations can maintain sensitivity to social disruption by seemingly desirable community projects. More ►
The effect of aspiration is that you continually apply additional ultimate values to whatever your personal ideals and society's current doctrines and values may be. This reduces the politicization inherent in ideals, and fosters good thoughts, good discussions, good relations, good actions, good intentions, good projects &c.
The neglect of aspiration is to allow complacency about the benefits of progress or simply settling for conformity and expediency. The nature of ideals means that self-righteousness in a cause may result, with political manipulation of facts and emotions.
R"L1-Get Enjoyment → Enjoyment-R"G11
When you put spiritual energy into getting enjoyment-R"L1, you have the possibility to experience joy in almost every situation. Don't wait for the storm to pass: dance in the rain! Enjoying-R"G11 means fully allowing, seeking, generating, activating and savouring pleasure in situations, big and small.
So: If the ultimate value being applied is wisdom, then you will enjoy learning from situations of every sort; if it is humour, then life's endless mishaps and irritations will appear as a cosmic joke. More ►
The effect of enjoying is that you probably end up laughing a lot whatever happens. Enjoyment is highly infectious. It is the basis for the diffusion of goodwill and provides a cushion against life's difficulties.
The neglect of enjoying can lead to feeling like an instrument, or getting over-involved with painful experiences, both of which are dehumanizing. At the extreme, becoming too instrumental and driven is the route to illness and early death.
Vehicles as «Existential Virtues»
