The Problem of Evil (XXVII)

[Gemini]

As with intelligence, it's a matter of degree.

Or the interpretation of degree.

So let me lay upon you my understanding of hierarchical reductionism and combinatorial systems.

Language is a good introduction to combinatorial systems. The way it works is you have components, and rules for combining them to form expressions. In the case of language, the components are words. The rules for combining words are grammar. Syntax. The expressions are sentences.

You see this system operating in many other disciplines, however. Take chemistry. The components are chemical elements. The rules for combining elements are the laws of chemistry, e.g. ionic and covalent bonds. The expressions are molecules.

The part where this gets really interesting is that expressions formed by components of one combinatorial system can become components of a new combinatorial system. Which opens up a whole new expression space.

Take atomic physics. The components are electrons, neutrons, and protons. The various ways you can combine them form the basis for chemistry. And combinations of chemicals form the basis for biology.

When it comes to humans and empathy, degree matters. Because intelligence matters. The smartest primates other than humans are only about as smart as a human two-year-old. Which, if you've any experience with two-year-olds, is really, really stupid. 

Which goes for empathy as well. And children usually can't be diagnosed with psychopathy because they're all basically psychopaths. Until they mature a bit in their teens, they can't emulate the mental states of others to the same extent that adult humans can. 

So yeah, we're animals, but the introduction of intelligence and empathy to our constitution has opened up a vast new expression space for us. And this is where morality emerges.