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Lets take a metaphorical model that aligns ethical maturity with stages of human cognitive development. Its purpose is twofold:

First: To provide a lens through which situational, cultural, and political conflicts can be assessed, enabling clearer understanding of why an individual or group behaves as it does. (Recognizing that these ‘levels’ are often fluid and situational. )

Second: To reach for useful strategies that facilitate ethical growth and constructive engagement.

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Ethical Maturity:

• Infant Level: Egocentric ethics; “good” is defined solely by personal benefit. Empathy and recognition of external needs are minimal. Immediate discomfort triggers self-centered reactions without broader consideration. For actual infants this is expected and mostly seen as normal and healthy.
• Adolescent Level (Group-Centric Ethics): Dominated by group identity; “good” extends selectively to one’s family, religion, ethnicity, political group, or nation. Ethical awareness and empathy remain confined within these boundaries. Outsiders are perceived with indifference, suspicion or hostility. Many contemporary conflicts—political polarization, nationalism, xenophobia, religious intolerance, racial injustice, and environmental exploitation—exemplify persistent and sometimes stubborn adherence to adolescent-level ethics. The prevalence of this ethical maturity in current societal discourse frequently impedes broader understanding, fueling polarization and division.
• Adult Level (Inclusive Ethics): Ethical reasoning expands beyond group boundaries. Cooperation and mutual respect for diverse groups and viewpoints emerge. Adults actively engage in dialogue and constructive conflict resolution, seeking solutions benefiting multiple stakeholders. Societal stability and progress depend significantly upon the widespread adoption of adult-level ethics. It can be very frustrating to deal with ‘adolescents’ who just don’t, won’t or can’t “get it”
• Elder Level (Universal Ethics): Holistic concern for universal well-being—encompassing humanity, all living beings, ecosystems, and the planet itself. Elder-level ethics prioritize long-term health, inclusivity and acceptance including, human/ecological harmony, and interconnectedness of life. These ethics are rare and often misunderstood by those operating primarily from earlier levels. Elder-level individuals profoundly inspire spiritual, social and environmental consciousness and often promote transformative change that starts with oneself.

Proposed Solutions for Ethical Advancement:

How do we make progress? How do we actually move ourselves—and others—from adolescent ethics, often entrenched and harmful, toward something more inclusive, constructive, and mature? Theoretically, we may know some ways forward. But practically? It seems very hard but has to be the way forward.

• Real, Not Superficial, Exposure to Diversity: Not just token interactions, but meaningful encounters with people who look, live, and believe differently. These moments slowly erode stereotypes and make “outsiders” more human and relatable.
• Critical, Reflective Education: Beyond textbooks and lectures, education should challenge students to grapple openly with ethical dilemmas. We need to teach how to recognize historical injustices and their echoes today, and to understand long-term impacts of narrow, exclusionary thinking.
• Facilitating Experiential Empathy: Empathy does not grow in the face of criticism, argument or logic. It comes alive through real and shared experiences.
• Amplifying Role Models: Societal norms shift most effectively when people encounter inspiring role models—individuals whose behavior sets new standards or embodies ethical maturity. But we currently live within a culture that obsessively amplifies negativity: scandals, outrage, divisive rhetoric. How do we flip the script to elevate positive role models who operate from adult or elder ethics?
• Shifting Narratives: Stories shape how we see ourselves, each other, and our possibilities. To foster ethical growth, we need narratives that illustrate—not lecture—about empathy, collaboration, and universal responsibility. How can we realistically shift prevailing narratives toward maturity?

Credit to some of the basic ideas here goes to: Patrick Whitefield – The Earth Care Manual.

Hello permies, I have four front yard annual beds that are a lovely thick mat of dandelion. I am a corner lot so seeds blow from all over and I welcome them but they are many! Two of the beds will be dahlias. I am thinking of just digging holes and leaving the dandelions. Is this a bad idea?

Well, these retaining wall block beds be a good space to plant some fruit trees? I also wanted to plant some veggies and flowers around them. I’m going for a food forrest.

My concern is that the roots of the fruit trees could get so big that they will mess up the retaining block walls. I already planted one golden current as wind block.

I already have some fruit trees lap in cherry, red Haven, peach, all in one almond, and a plum cot .

I got a little excited and maybe I shouldn’t have gotten these fruit trees. I am really having a tough time deciding what to do right now. Any tips or advice happily accepted.