My philosophy on human well-being

This is a change from my normal technical ramblings, but I've put in here instead of starting a separate blog.

A Philosophy of Universal Potential and Cultural Progress

The Core Principles

• Universal Human Potential: I believe that all people, regardless of where they are born or what their background is, have the same capacity for reason and progress. There is no inherent hierarchy between different groups of people; human potential is a universal constant.
• Judging Ideas, Not People: I make a clear distinction between an individual and the ideas they happen to hold. Ideas—whether they are social, political, or religious—are like tools. Some tools work better than others to solve the challenges of living together. To question or criticise an idea is not an attack on the person; it is an essential part of finding better ways to live.
• The Timeline of Progress: History shows that human societies do not all move at the same pace. Some societies are currently governed by rules and laws that others moved away from long ago—such as the merging of religion and law, or the restriction of basic freedoms for certain groups. I see this as a matter of where a society sits on the timeline of development, rather than a permanent feature of the people themselves.
• Objective Standards for Well-being: I believe it is possible to measure how well a set of ideas is working by looking at the results. A society that values the freedom to speak, the use of evidence, and equal rights for everyone produces a better quality of life than a society based on rigid dogma or the absolute power of a few. These are not just "local" preferences; they are principles that improve life for everyone, everywhere.

Why These Views are Mislabelled as Racist

In modern conversation, these observations are often met with accusations of racism. I believe this happens because of a few common misunderstandings:

• Mistaking Culture for Ancestry: Many people today treat a person's cultural or religious background as if it were an unchangeable part of their physical identity. Because of this, they see a critique of a specific practice as an attack on an ethnic group. I believe humans are capable of outgrowing old ideas, and no one should be defined solely by the traditions of their ancestors.
• The Belief That All Practices are Equally Valid: There is a common view that it is wrong to suggest one way of organising society is better than another. By arguing that certain values—like individual liberty and secular law—produce better results for human beings, I am challenging the idea that all customs are beyond criticism. To those who believe we must never judge another society's rules, any attempt to do so looks like a form of prejudice.
• Focusing on Power Instead of Principles: Some critics focus entirely on who has more power in the world. They feel that if a group has been treated unfairly in the past, we should stay silent about the flaws in their current laws or beliefs. I believe this approach is a mistake because it leaves the most vulnerable people within those groups without a voice. We should want the same high standards of freedom and safety for everyone, no matter their history.
• Optimism Misunderstood as Hostility: My view is rooted in the belief that because the problems we see in the world are caused by flawed ideas rather than flawed people, they can be fixed. By identifying where ideas are failing, we open the door for change. Accusations of racism often stem from a viewpoint that doesn't believe people are capable of moving beyond the limitations of their current environment.