The global landscape in mid-2025 reveals a tension: breathtaking technological progress shadowed by moral stagnation. We stand surrounded by wonders yet drifting in confusion. Philip Andreae’s framework of the Golden Rule and PLEASE Principles shows the path forward: revive timeless wisdom, operationalize it, and make it our living practice — individually and collectively.
The Ethical Lag and Its Cost
The old codes — tribal, territorial, adversarial — no longer serve our interconnected reality. Our institutions are lagging behind our tools:
- Politics fractures into “us vs. them.”
- Nature is stripped for profit.
- Wealth piles high for some while billions stand at the gate.
- Information divides rather than enlightens.
We have grown powerful but not yet wise. The Golden Rule, known to every faith and culture, remains our universal compass. The PLEASE Principles — Satisfy Each Other Respectfully and Your ‘More’ Shouldn’t Mean Their ‘Less’ — guide us to live this compass daily.
Introducing the Golden Threads
Yet principles alone are not enough. The Golden Threads — Wisdom, Compassion, Truth, Reverence, Equality, Balance — bind the Golden Rule to life’s messy reality. They remind us:
- Wisdom: See beyond short-term gain.
- Compassion: Care for all, near and far.
- Truth: Name reality, no matter how uncomfortable.
- Reverence: Honor life, the planet, the unseen ties that bind.
- Equality: See every voice as worthy.
- Balance: Know when enough is enough — and when to act.
The Golden Eye: Our Inner Compass
These threads converge in the Golden Eye — our shared inner lens. When we align our Golden Eye — individually and together — we awaken Homo Moralis, the moral human:
- A being who asks before acting.
- Who respects before imposing.
- Who checks that every step honors the Golden Rule: Do unto others — and ensure your more does not mean their less.
When the Golden Eye is clear, balance is the result. When balance reigns, peace emerges. From peace flows prosperity for all, not just the few.
Signs of Awakening
This is not a fantasy — it is emerging now:
- Youth demanding climate and social justice.
- Businesses rewriting profit to include purpose.
- Faiths rediscovering common ground.
- Technologists seeking ethical alignment.
We are glimpsing Homo Moralis — the next stage of who we can be.
The Path Forward
The old world clings to tribal advantage and short-term hoarding. The new world asks: What is enough? How do we live respectfully?
If we dare to align our Golden Eye — to weave the Golden Threads daily — we can finally match our technological power with moral maturity.
This is not a plea for perfection — it is a call for participation. The Golden Rule, the PLEASE Principles, the Threads, and the Eye are not slogans. They are tools for rebuilding trust, healing division, and living as neighbors again.
The Choice is Ours
We can drift deeper into fracture, or we can stitch ourselves together with the oldest truth:
Treat each other well. Respect each other truly. Balance your gain with their future.
This is how peace emerges. This is how prosperity grows for all.
Next Steps
- Join the Conversation: Share your thoughts below and explore more at Andreae.com.
- Apply the Golden Rule: Ask yourself daily: Does my ‘more’ cost someone ‘less’?
- Shape the Living Bible: Learn about Hesus, the Movie — the story that weaves these truths into a living narrative for all.