Governing Principle

For thousands of years humankind has sought to comprehend the ultimate governing principle of the universe. Archeological evidence suggests that for many humans who lived in the ancient world, that principle was greed. More specifically, it was greed for power among various superior beings that we today tend to call "gods". As the governing principle was defined, so was also the human condition. For if we are all but pawns in the games of gods, then we must conduct our lives in deference and reverence to them or else wind up caught in the crossfire of the wars they wage. This isn’t to suggest that early religions were all of the fatalistic variety, but certainly one can imagine how they might have tended toward that.

It has to be remembered, though, that at the point where religions were organized enough to leave archeological records of their practices, the greater societies in which they dwelt were organized with distinct hierarchical structures. So one must wonder if society reflected the affairs of the gods, or did the gods reflect the affairs of society?

Today, humankind still searches for the governing principle, but in accordance with our modern values we turn to the universe of science for guidance. As with our colleagues of old, what we find is in large part determined by the kind of lens we’re using. But if we accept on faith that there is, in fact, a governing principle, then it shouldn’t really matter what lens we use as long as we’re willing to acknowledge that part of how we define that principle is determined by what method we’ve employed to capture it. If we can do that, then we are not in danger of confusing our perception of the principle with the principle itself, and we are more likely to allow ourselves to be shaped by it rather than falling prey to bending it to fit our own narrow agendas. The key, it seems, is to never confuse the means for the ends.

So, in theory, if there is a governing principle irrespective of the lens you use to find it, then it’s possible that every lens you try will ultimately show you the exact same thing.

And, by Grandpappy, it does. And I think the best ever way to demonstrate this point is to examine how science has uncovered the ultimate governing principle.