The Human Axis

[Underwood]

The Human Axis

This text is the third in its series. It draws heavily on the author's previous texts, Dissertation on the Natural and On the Imposition of Morals.

The author would like it known that he does not mean to offend any humanoid race for which this text applies. He simply felt that The Human Axis was a better phrase than The Humanoid Axis. Any references to Humans are indeed references to Humanoids.

Part I - The Established Axes

As has been previously established, our moral system hinges on two axes, that of Good and that of Law. These axes are defined by the outer planes and imposed on our own, often by means of deity worship.

Although there is no Natural morality, it is Natural for all men to place themselves on the axis. No man can find himself outside of the system, no matter how neutral or extreme. Therefore, we must say that any position cannot be deemed wrong or right.

How, then, can we make any judgement at all? To answer this question, we must ask ourselves, is there some third axis which affects our morality? This text seeks to provide an answer.

Part II - Tolerance, An Axis

Surely the reader has seen men, regardless of their moral position, turn to their neighbor and begin verbally or physically assaulting them, entirely unprovoked. Surely the reader has also witnessed men agree to disagree.

These actions outline a third axis. - the axis of Tolerance. Although it may not be as apparent, one's tolerance of other moralities motivates one's decisions, and therefore should be included in our moral system.

While adding this third dimension does complicate things somewhat, it makes it possible to distinguish between the the healer and the paladin, the barbarian and the anarchist. Whereas the healer seeks to do Good to all, the paladin is sworn by oath to destroy Evil. The barbarian may choose to live in the wilds, but the anarchist feels compelled to destroy Law. It is their inherent intolerance of other moralities that sets these individuals apart.

Now we must ask the question, is tolerance correct or incorrect? Again we will revert to the only objective proof. We will determine whether or not tolerance is natural to this plane of existance.

Part III - The Nature of Tolerance

We must again look at the outer planes to determine the origin of Tolerance. Although the traditional moralities are entirely represented within the outer planes, we must notice that, strangely enough, they are all entirely intolerant to one another. One never hears of a demon and an archon having any sort of relationship, save a friendship.

We conclude that tolerance was created within our plane, and is therefore Natural. Indeed, the path of tolerance is one that is inherent to most, without an external force guiding their thoughts. This suggests that Intolerance is unnatural, and, indeed, it seems tp be largely imposed upon our plane by forces supernatural.

The paladin's intolerance is obvious. His deity commands that he obey an oath, else he will lose the supernatural powers granted to him. Less obvious is that of the anarchist. However, properly understood, one can see that the most common anarchists are followers of the "Nature" gods. Clearly their intolerance is driven by this faith, and a commitment to perserve their perverted conception of Nature.

Part IV - The Human Axis

Having properly examined Tolerance, we must now ask the important question. Yes, it is natural, but how does that affect the manner in which we act? Should we embrace it, or shun it? Or perhaps we should ignore it, and continue life as per usual.

I say, here and now, to embrace Tolerance! It is not only natural to the material plane, but it is a human creation as well. This axis is a fundamental part of our identity, that which seperates us from the demons, the archons, the gods. To strive for intolerance, as the zealots do, is to shun the very thing that makes us unique.

But that is not the only thing at stake when Tolerance is dismissed. Tolerance provides us the ability to work together, or at least not impede each other. Tolerance allows for us to make true progress towards building a society that is better for all, rather than destroying a part of society that is found distasteful.

The dismissal of Tolerance is nothing less than the dismissal of Humanity.

Summation

The traditional axes are incomplete

The axis of Tolerance completes the system

Tolerance is natural, and Intolerance is unnatural

Humanity is defined by Tolerance

-Andrew Underwood