General
The two books that are the existing literature of the Society, viz.
are the authoritative statement of its ideas, concepts, beliefs, principles
and rules. Following world-wide establishment, the Society as a whole will
take up responsibility for refining, producing and approving authoritative
amendments or additions to those texts as the changing circumstances of
humanity demand.
The founding books of the Society are an attempt to state exactly and with
precision the whole of the thinking leading to the establishment of the Society
of HumanKind, and the ideas, concepts and principles that underpin its
policies, practices and activities. They examine afresh major aspects of our
social and moral life from the perspective of the Society.
The principles of the Society demand that it must do nothing to proselytise,
or to seek to persuade others to abandon their existing beliefs. Consequently
no special effort has been made to make the books easily read or understood.
They are intended to test the determination of those who seek their help.
First founding book:
"Foundations of the Society of HumanKind"
The
Axioms
and
Dogma
of the Society appear at the beginning of the
'Foundations'. They are precise statements of the fundamental ideas of the
Society. No argument or justification wider than that set out in this
Introduction supports the Axioms and the Dogma. The reader must either accept
or reject the view of the universe and of human existence they present.
Acceptance is an indispensable prerequisite to membership of the Society of
HumanKind.
From the Axioms and Dogma are derived three tri-part
Principles
. That is the
framework on which the structure of the Society is built. That frame supports
nine
Treaties
developed from the perspective provided by the Axioms, Dogma and
Principles. The Treatises are,
1. On Knowledge
2. On the Individual
3. On Tolerance
4. On Justice
5. On Peace
6. On Morality
7. On Culture
8. On Relationships
9. On the Constitution of the Society of HumanKind
Each Treatise sets out the implications of an acceptance of the Axioms, Dogma
and Principles in the field that it covers. It describes that aspect of
human life in the age of the Society of HumanKind. The Treatise on Knowledge
establishes a common theme of the Treatises. It explores the important
implication of the Axioms that there can be no certain base for human
knowledge. The ultimate and inherent uncertainty of all human knowledge is a fundamental premise of
the Society of HumanKind.
The Treatise on the Constitution of the Society of HumanKind examines and
explains the structure and organisation of the Society. It is wholly
self-governing and controlled by its living membership through a regulating
hierarchy of Executive Committees and Councils of Elders culminating at World
level. The Treatise presents the argument justifying a restriction on any
amendment to the founding books or authorised texts of the Society, or to its
rules and constitution. No such change is permissible other than by the
authority of the World Council of Elders and only then after consultation with
every Council and Committee of the Society.
Pending the establishment of the
World Council, and to prevent unnecessary conflict and dispute should the early
stages of the Society be unduly prolonged, that responsibility will be held in
trust on behalf of the whole Society by its Founder and author of its two
founding books.
Other aspects of the Society are examined in a later section of this
Introduction
.
The first founding book also contains the
Ordinances
of the Society, which is
its constitution. The Ordinances formally set out the Aim, Duty and
Responsibility of the Society. Those three statements are a recapitulation of
the Axioms and Dogma insofar as they determine the purposes and objectives of
the Society. The Ordinances also describe the general principles governing
the work of the Society, and its methods of electing its Councils and
Committees. They give its membership full responsibility for all decisions
and actions necessary to discharge its Duty and Responsibility, and thus to
achieve its Aim.
The first of the founding books of the Society ends with a
Discourse
. It
gives the reader an insight into the background and writing of the book. The
purpose of the Discourse is to give another perspective on the meaning and
intent of the earlier parts.