Nature

Definition: Nature As used herein, the term Nature has two related meanings - Nature - Universe Nature in this first sense refers to the entire universe starting with the Big Bang. However, as used herein, all things having to do with Persons are carved out of the term Nature in this first sense and are given their own special definitions in the OC. Nature - Intrinsic Nature in this second sense means "the intrinsic or essential qualities of somebody or something" (Encarta Dictionary) as in the statements, "Violence is the Nature of war," or "It is the Nature of gold to be heavier than oxygen," or "Language is a part of human Nature."

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Nature

DAN: See Reality where I need to work into the page Aristotle's four causes. Also, include the adjective and adverb, Natural, Naturally. The special term, Duty, is Natural.

JULY 2018: Also, work in the "nature" of evil. Like scurvy, it is the absence of the good.

The term "Nature" has two related meanings -

Nature - Universe

Refers to the entire universe starting with the Big Bang. However, for purposes of the CG, all things having to do with Persons are carved out of the term "Nature" in this first sense and have their own special definitions. A common nickname for Nature with these other meanings carved out is "Mother Nature."

Nature - Intrinsic qualities

Nature in its second sense means "the intrinsic or essential qualities of somebody or something" (Encarta Dictionary) as in "human Nature" - what it means to be a Person.

Commentary Our point in defining Nature in this second sense is that all things that exist - including you and us - have a Nature that says we are this and not that; that it is appropriate for us to do this, but not that.

A tree has no problem not being a fish. But often times you and we are confused about what we are supposed to be or do. Is this or that outside our Nature?

We do not get into morals or ethics in the CG or in the Cohesion Program, or at least we do not think that we do. Instead we rely on Group consensus decision-making using, among other skills, Conversation and Voluntary Helpfulness to Judge what kinds of behaviors and relationships conform to our human Nature, at least, according to the Group. We intend this description of "Group" and "decision-making" to be expansive enough to include an informal Group of Neighbors and the highly formal dogmatic declarations of a church.

Acknowledging that Americans have a diversity of Opinions, Understandings, Judgments and Beliefs about our Nature, the only criteria we assume all Americans agree on is that the behaviors and relationships of a Destructive Cult is both Undesirable and wholly unacceptable under all circumstances. This is another way of saying that all Americans do Believe that we do have a Nature to which we ought to conform even though it can be difficult to grasp the requirements of our Nature in specific situations.

Subordinate of: Reality

Related terms: Big Bang | Person

Neighbor Special Terms: Event