Ultimate Standard

 

Every individual needs to maximize his potential and fulfill his destiny. This is the fundamental ethical standard. People need to achieve as much as possible while still leaving plenty of time for fun and rest. The basic goal is to be great and happy at the highest level you can be.

And yet there's another ethical standard too. It's even harder. But the reward is almost inconceivably rich and wonderful. This ideal could be referred to as the SuperSentient standard. And the reward is immortality.

Almost all the facts and evidence known to man indicate a supernatural, superreal, all-powerful, all-knowing god doesn't exist and can't exist. But space aliens might and likely do. Some are sure to be advanced well beyond mankind. Some are so far beyond us they could easily be called "gods". These beings, alas, likely have no interest in human beings – not even a hostile one.

But lesser space creatures might and likely do. They could be called SuperMoralites as well as SuperSentients. These extremely-virtuous, well-educated, highly-skilled, technologically-advanced beings or demi-gods could have an IQ of around 300 and a VQ (virtue quotient) to match. Their understanding of biology and genetics is likely so great they almost certainly live forever. Or at least they don't senesce. They possess the secret of infinite life, provided they aren't unexpectedly physically destroyed.

Such SuSents may well take an interest in humanity and might be willing to grant us an infinite lifespan too, provided they like us well enough. That is, if we wow and impress them enough. That is, if they judge us highly enough to be deserving of escaping age and disintegration.

But while fictional-god is almost always willing to forgive our sins, the real demi-gods and SuSents are likely quite different. They almost certainly have high standards. For an individual to be rescued by them, he better truly exploit and enjoy his existence, while being decently socially cooperative and not much harming others, not even lowly animals.

Common sense suggests he needs to treasure himself and his life, but he needn't worry about publicly advertising or displaying this. The SuSent level of perception and understanding means they'll know it. At the same time, we humans better worry about becoming genuinely good and great, because it's almost inconceivable we can fool them on this, and somehow trick them into granting us the ultimate gift.

So if we want immortality we better be objectively and absolutely great and happy. We need to maximize our relatively poor potential and fulfill our relatively poor destinies. This is probably essential to currying favor with the SuSents and winning the big prize.

These highly powerful and benevolent space aliens might view us as a type of pet. They might regard us as we regard cats and dogs – or even quite a bit lower. Still, some individual humans might live well enough for them to notice and reward. It's possible.

But monotheistic god isn't. Or, at least, his existence and potential reward is massively unlikely. So at all times we need to live up to the best standard. The true standard. The SuperSentient being standard.

This ethical ideal is likely high and difficult. But it should be well worth it. Even if the SuSents don't exist or aren't aware of us, trying to live up to their lofty standards should provide us with immense rewards, even if we miss the ultimate one.

But it seems legitimate and worthwhile to work and hope for even that!