About Me

Hi: My name is Bill Doak and I am the initiator of this blog.
I have started this dialogue because I’m concerned about the future of the human race. In fact I’m concerned about all life on this planet. Now I know I’m not the only one that shares this concern as there are many environmental groups who are similarly concerned. As well there are numerous humanistic as well as religious groups who are concerned about the future of humanity. The difference I guess I’m stressing in this discussion lies at what I believe is the root of the problem, and that is human nature itself.
Humans, as with most life on this planet tend to be self focused; that is self preservation takes precedence. This has been okay up to this point in time where we did not have a major impact on our environment, our planet or perhaps in the not too distant future an impact on other planets and environments. The time has come werein this self focus is going to not only damage other forms of life, but our own as well. Self focus always tends to sub-optimize the well being of the whole. If our leg said I want all the nourishment that the body brings in, then the heart and lungs would have to go short and the body as a whole would suffer, including the leg. I know that it is incredibly difficult to see how our day-to-day actions impact the well being of the whole. However, this means that we need to scientifically study to gain a better understanding and to communicate and convince others as to the kind of behaviours. we need to have.
There are three areas of focus I would like to consider in this discussion.

1. Do we need to develop a vision, a higher purpose that all mankind could buy into. One that encompasses all forms life and leads to the optimization of happiness (see definition on definitions page) and the minimization of suffering for all forms of life?
2. What are the thoughts, beliefs and actions that lead to the optimizations of happiness and the minimization of suffering?
3. What is involved in transforming the human character such that the good of the whole takes precedence over the good of the one. This could include agreeing on a common set of values.

Please see my pages on “Thoughts on Life” and “Should the Human Race have a Higher Purpose?”.

As well, please see what I think should be the rules and guidelines as well as a page I inserted for definitions.
I would much prefer that this blog not be thought of as mine, but as that of the groups. I am quite happy to just be the administrator.
It is truly my hope that this would expand away beyond this blog and would become a subject of discussion in all aspects of our society.
Bill Doak (someone who would like to make a difference)