✌️ Peace

Definition

Peace carries at least a dual meaning of:

  • internal harmony within an individual, and
  • interpersonal harmney between individuals.

Discussion

Overview

A peaceful society is one in which a critical mass of people respect the Legal Principle and embrace Moral Princple are followed by a critical mass of people.

Peace does not just mean an absence of war. An absence of war does not mean freedom. The Legal Principle can still be broken when there is no war.

Nor does peace mean an absence of aggressing. An absence of aggressing does, however, mean freedom.

Therefore, to move from freedom to peace, we need more than the Legal Principle. The Moral Principle fills this gap.

By embracing the Moral Principle, we can aspire for excellence and elevate a free world to a peaceful world.

Univeral peace comes by way of the freedom achieved through the Legal Principle, but depends on people choosing to also embrace the Moral Principle

Our vision of peace

3L defines peace on Earth as a state where humans live free from aggressors and treat each other excellently.

This will be achieved when all laws globally align with the Legal Principle, and everyone equally adheres to this law without exception.

Freedom is the prerequisite for peace, but it is not sufficient on its own.

Peace requires a high standard of morality, including respect, generosity, and honesty with each other. But such morality must be voluntary.

Peace can never be forced, otherwise we break the Legal Principle.

Terminology

  • Peace means different things to different people, but it is generally categorized in two ways:

    Inner peace

    • Inner peace is our state of being when not holding onto the past, not resisting the present, and not anxious about the future. Inner peace is ever-present to those with acceptance of their circumstances, without demands on their life or others’ lives.
    • The 3L Movement is compatible with inner peace, but our focus is on achieving peace between humans; external peace.
    • One could argue that there is no purpose in pursuing external peace because inner peace is the only goal, which can be achieved by simply accepting things and society as it is. The same argument could be made to the doctor saving lives, the farmer growing food, or the teacher guiding children. What, instead, should we do with our time and energy? Why not pursue external freedom, peace, and prosperity?!

    “Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water" Zen proverb.

    External peace

    • External peace refers to the harmonious relationships between humans in society. Freedom, the absence of aggression between people, is a necessary prerequisite for external peace, which is why the Legal Principle is essential. However, a peaceful society requires more than just freedom, which is why 3L incorporates the Moral Principle and its aspirational values. In this context, global peace entails eradicating aggression from society - this is the primary focus of the Live and Let Live Movement.

      • Even if external peace did have one universal definition, absolute peace between all humans on Earth is unrealistic to expect, because “to err is human.” However, we can of course live in a vastly more peaceful and harmonious community on Earth, so long as we identify and adhere to the essential principles that make it possible.
      • External peace is not just the absence of war; it’s the absence of violence, coercion, theft, fraud, the threat or substantial risk of harm, and any form of nonconsensual initiation of force.

The relationship between internal and external peace

  • Internal peace is possible even when society is not peaceful, and vice versa. However, internal and external peace can support each other, and both are worthy of our best efforts to achieve.

Further resources

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