Before there was an idea of a supreme being, western medicine or quantum physics --- as ideas and values change...
Or even the Sanskrit language for that matter : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit
With it's origins some 5,000 to 6,000 years ago, "the splendors of the ancient Egyptian civilization have been a source of inspiration down through the ages. Since the Greek historian Herodotus first wrote about his travels through Egypt in the fifth century B.C., people have speculated about how the Egyptians built their massive monuments, and marveled at the beauty of their art and architecture."
http://www.civilization.ca/civil/egypt/egcivile.html
Canadian Museum of Civilization
If you'd like to read the thorough version, it can be found here :
http://archive.ala.org/booklist/v97/rbb/fe2/45oxford.html
In relation to the above --- the interesting thing is that as a result of new ideas/technological progress, environmental changes and changes in people's circumstances our definition of "good" changes.. Since Time is a social construct, just like everything else, http://science.howstuffworks.com/atomic-clock.htm ... what is more important is a system of thought that does not change with any unit of measurement... And with this dynamically changing definition of "good" and "bad," let us use that power of knowledge to attain and maintain perceptions of caring and "fairness," as opposed to using the power of knowledge (for it is a matter of choice) to systematically "torture" others --- all sentient beings... This is a magnificent article, the teachings of which I hope people actually aspire to:
http://www.josephsoninstitute.org/poc/dershowitz.htm
For the same intentions, this essay is Simply Brilliant, and part of the Bangor Theological Seminary. It is delivered by Dr. Daniel C. Maguire, who teaches Moral Theology & Ethics at Marquette University and is founder of The Religious Consultation; on population, reproductive health & ethics.
"We in the United States are now the New Rome, the Empire, living gloriously and well" http://www.religiousconsultation.org/News_Tracker/Dan_Maguire_commencement_address_Bangor.htm
At the Planned Parenthood Federation of America's 2002 Annual Conference --- Dr. Maguire, author of Sacred Choices: The Right to Contraception and Abortion in Ten World Religions, speaks about spirituality and sexuality.
As a learned person and one who believe in "fairness," Dr. Maguire is not only a qualified person to give advice on public policy, but actually makes it a topic people can enjoy participating in! Of Course in good Taste....
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/health_cast/hcast_index.cfm?display=detail&hc=517
Although "Good" and "Bad" will continue to change with time, for time is a social construct, our system of thought will never change with time if we Choose to believe in attaining and maintaining perceptions of caring and "fairness," which is based on our underlying assumptions and continual learning and growth!
http://science.howstuffworks.com/atomic-clock.htm
"In the United States, the standard of time is regulated by the US Naval Observatory's Master Clock (USNO), the official source of time for the Department of Defense. The effects of these mechanisms are felt by all of us in the form of alarm clocks, computers, answering machines and meeting schedules"
Hopefully Einstein's work E=MC2 will lead us to proving the no-boundary proposal!http://www.time.com/time/time100/scientist/profile/einstein.html
In the mean time, before the no-boundary proposal is more objectively proven, the question is how do you define "good" and "bad," when it is dynamically changing!
THE GENETIC REVOLUTION by Dr Patrick Dixon
"The end of the line?"
http://www.globalchange.com/books/Genes1.htm
Works Cited: http://www.globalchange.com/books/Genesrefconc.htm
If you do not have real player you may download it here:
http://www.real.com/player/?src=realplayer
Quite Intriguing...Make yourself a new body, replace your brain & spine successfully by making the proper connections --- and you can live forever --- unless you die by accident of course... Today's fiction certainly, but very likely tomorrow's reality... you never know! You'll probably have to take regenerative drugs to maintain the cells in your brain and spinal cord... but anything's possible! http://www.globalchange.com/18yrs.html
"Human cloning : Will he ever be able to make himself a new body? Cloning new organs and stem cell research" http://www.globalchange.com/jd.html
Who want's to play god? This Video is SIMPLY BRILLIANT. I Highly Recommend Watching It! It's quite profound, and touches the work of physicians, lawyers and even social workers! It's also quite entertaining!
The Future of Medicine in the Age of Biotech
http://www.globalchange.com/futuremedicine.htm
Keynote speech by Dr Patrick Dixon (physician and futurist) for gene technology companies and biotech analysts / investors in Zurich. Audience of 150 - October 2002.
Dr. Dixon is quite right, expect that biotech and the digital revolutions are not two, independent things! They are in fact married technologies that will likely revolutionize how the world thinks, functions and works via nano-computers : http://computer.howstuffworks.com/dna-computer.htm
What A Brave New world : Personally, I'm for stem cell research, organ regeneration and possibly even human cloning in extra-ordinary circumstances ( depending on the long-term effects ) ... but not like this... I guess it's a matter of perception, but it is my opinion!
Human cloning, Human genetics and Brave New World
http://www.globalchange.com/clone_index.htm
It's interesting to note that in the world of bio-technology the definitions of "good" and "bad" are not firmly established as of yet! I wonder how god would attest to such circumstance?
I guess our reality often depends on what we make of it!