Planetary Health

The health of the world rightly is and should be of high priority, and the standard of health raised to include transcending time and space. Health is a concept distinct from, for instance, ambition, magnificence, or industrial transformation. The Earth-Moon system was photographed from Mars by the HiRise orbiter and from Saturn by the Cassini orbiter, as well as from space by other probes on their way from Earth to some destination. These photos give Earth a distinct identity and something of a self-concept. It's time to capitalize on that with the highest standards of morality and justice possible.

In particular, war among human beings must be regarded as a pathological condition in which behavior otherwise characteristic of organisms is limited to the insects. While competition for food and other resources may result in one species dominating another, and can even lead to the extinction of a loser, war itself does not take place. Yet war does occur among insects.

It is true that the practice of war has led to refinements of its goals. In no other species does war intent to preserve democracy and the removal of a tyrannical leader. This does not necessarily justify war.