Weaving a Moral Ecology The Story of Ayouba

J. Tedrowe Bonner © Rubicon Seven, LLC 2011

Thou Shalt

Or

Thou

Shalt Not

Deontology

Rules Based

Absolutism

Duty

Impartialism

Universalism

Relational Ethics

Caring

Developmental

Engagement/Practice

Culture

Proximate

Three Spheres of Relational Ethics

Individual

Group

System

• Morality: Embedded beliefs and behavior regarding what is perceived to be right and wrong.

• Ethics: The study & practice of what we believe to be moral.

• Principles: Statements of purpose derived from the object of study.

1. Everything has needs and products.

2. The time it takes for a resource to go through the system is more

important than the quantity of the resource.

3. Stacking Function: At least three reasons for doing anything.

4. Redundancy: Every essential function is carried out in at least two ways.

5. A “problem” is the solution.

6. Undergo the least change for the greatest effect.

7. Find a suitable site and concentrate resources.

8. The only limit to yield is our minds.

Principles of Permaculture

• International Accusations of human rights abuses and fraud.

• Documented killing of people in the Gio and Mano ethnic groups.

• Sharp drop in the standard of living.

• Severe ethnic conflict.

The Doe Administration

• 250,000 killed in civil wars. • Ethnic cleansing and murder

of the Kran and Mandingo. • Charles Taylor indicted on

war crimes. • 80% living below poverty

line.

The Taylor Administration

Source: Carolyn Cole. 2003.

3rd. Foreign aid as a percentage of GNI. 3rd. Adolescent birth rate (ages 15-19). 3rd. Intestinal diseases death rate. 3rd. Lowest GDP. 4th. Infant mortality rate.

Liberia: Dubious Global Rankings Today

Everyday Ghandis

Mandingo Lorma

Lorma Mandingo

Shifting Frameworks

See: Bennett, J. G.: Elementary Systematics.

“[Caring] is that condition toward which we long and strive, and

it is our longing for caring that provides us the motivation for us to

be moral”

- Nell Noddings

See: Noddings, Nell. 1986. Caring: A Feminine Approach to Ethics and Moral Education. Berkeley: University of California Press.

Ethical Care

Special Thanks To: Ayouba M. Kamara Selected References Bennett, J. G. 1990. Enneagram Studies. York Beach, Maine: Samuel Weiser, Inc. —. 1993. Elementary Systematics. Santa Fe, NM: Bennett Books. Held, Virginia. 2005. The Ethics of Care: Personal, Political, and Global: Oxford. Holmgren, David. 2009. Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability. Hepburn, Victoria. Australia: Holmgren Design Services. Hume, David. 1993. An Inquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Edited by E. Steinberg: Hackett Press. Noddings, Nell. 1986. Caring: A Feminine Approach to Ethics and Moral Education. Berkeley: University of California Press. Slote, Michael A. 2007. The Ethics of Care and Empathy. London ; New York: Routledge. —. 2010. Moral Sentimentalism. Oxford ; New York: Oxford University Press.

Development Triad

Function

Being

Purposeful Life

Will

-Regenerative

Less Resources Required

Strengthens Life

More Resources Required

Weakens Life

-Restorative

-Sustaining / Conservation

-Conventional Practice

Technologies / Techniques Fragmented Thinking

Inspirited Connection Living Systems Understanding Whole System Pattern Thinking

Regenerating System

Degenerating System

Developmental Evolution Adapted from the work of Bill Reed, Regenesis 2006

-Conservation -High Performance -Green

Elemental Mind