A mind experiment exploring the nature of innocence and the difference between good and evil.
PROPOSAL
All children are born innocent.
Concepts of good and evil are inflicted upon the child by other human beings encountered during life.
At the moment of influence, innocence begins to be lost.
The initial loss is irreversible.
Influence can be accidental or intentional, often both.
Innocence is degraded over time by variable degrees.
CONTROL GROUP
Theoretical construct provides all life support needs without presence of human or human-like influence for the subject's entire lifespan.
Example: A human zygote grown in a life deck of a long duration space journey, tended to by maintenance robots.
Closed growing environment maintained for optimal human health.
Subject is isolated and left to its own motivations.
No instruction, no lessons, no influence on the subject other than the stable environment.
Thought Experiment Baseline 1
Subject is exposed only to mechanical lessons concerning survival and self upkeep. Personal hygiene, physical body maintenance, dexterity, balance and posture. Lessons are provided by mechanical repetition only.
Thought Experiment Baseline 2
In addition to Baseline 1, an AI adds language skills and cause/effect lessons thru verbal instruction without inflection.
Thought Experiment Baseline 2.1
In addition to previous baselines the AI includes instruction on ship operations and maintenance. Subject spends its existence maintaining the ship on its long duration journey and dies without encountering another human being.
Thought Experiment Baseline 3
In addition to Baselines 1 & 2, subject is taught basic social skills by the AI and is eventually introduced to a similar subject society. No reference between right or wrong, good or evil is taught by the AI. All subjects of this society are taught the same ship operations and maintenance at the same time.
Thought Experiment Baseline 4
Baseline 1 with the introduction of a human nurturer who represents mother/father to the subject. Subject is exposed to concepts of good/evil, right/wrong, pride/guilt, morals/tradition/instinct by a single human influence. Language skills are taught.
Thought Experiment Baseline 5
Baseline 1 with the introduction of a human nurturers representing mother and father. Subject is exposed to concepts of good/evil, right/wrong, pride/guilt, morals/tradition/instinct by two individual and different influences. Language skills are taught.
Thought Experiment Baseline 6
Baseline 1 with the introduction of a human nurturers representing multiple relationships including mother, father, sibling, relatives, friends and strangers. Subject is exposed to concepts of good/evil, right/wrong, pride/guilt, morals/tradition/instinct by multiple individuals with different motives. Language skills and personal presence is taught.
CHALLENGE
Using the established experimental baselines as noted above;
- Determine the scenario which would occur for each subject.
- Predict the behaviors which would manifest in the order of occurrence.
- Identify the positive/negative influences as they would apply to real-world situations.
- Predict the personality traits the subject would possess. Good/bad/evil/divine/neutral/social/isolated.
ASSESSMENT
Make an assessment of how other humans influence children's behavior which corrupts their inherent innocence. Determine and state the initial influence and subsequent influential behaviors from others which determine a child's predilection to moral/immoral personality traits.
In other words, what makes someone good or bad?
Is it learned behavior or is it natural human behavior?
I believe it is the nature of social species to develop anti-social behaviors.
I also believe an individual in a social species, if isolated will not develop anti-social behaviors until they are exposed to the rest of the society. The would remain innocent until exposed to influences which remove that innocence.
I was watching an old TV show last night and the subject was presented concerning "When does a child actually lose their innocence?". The onscreen debate was mainly concerning religious teachings and the advent of understanding the difference between right and wrong.
My mind took it a step further and I ask "Who teaches the innocent child right and wrong even exists"? When does that occur? Is it a taught lesson or is it taught by nurture?
I tried to remember when I first said "No' to each of my children. Those were purpose driven instructions but I realize I made subtle changes in my behavioral responses to them long before I verbalized instruction. I wonder, at what point in my children's lives did I corrupt their innocence without realizing it?
Don't get me wrong, my children are not evil but they're no longer innocent either. In all the people I've known, only those with social handicap seem innocent to me. They are people who walk life without an ulterior agenda, malice or pride.
Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts.
I'm curious what others think on the subject.
Yes, I know I'm weird.
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