After an incredibly long discussion with The Mei over plates of Ethiopean goodness at The Sheba, which conversation was mediated by ToyZ, mainly bcos we barely let her get a word in edgeways, it was grandly concluded that human morality is largely immutable… so that any perceived increase in morality/social consciousness (such as that posited in my half-joking idea on a thermodynamic arrow of morality) is almost entirely the result of expanding technology and greater accessibility to the sorts of resources that can supplant the need to directly inflict suffering upon fellow  humans.

You’ll just have to blindly trust our conclusion. You weren’t there…

And I can’t promise that this will be the last you’ll hear of the TAM. I’m fickle, and I might be lured into these waters again by people who don’t know how to shut up and eat… But I think this is a good tweak: the TAM stands, but the mechanics / drivers have been more correctly attributed. Possibly…

[2010-05-19] - just read this and wanted to add that ‘thermodynamic arrow of morality” has to be THE stupidest name I’ve EVER thought up for anything. And I’ve thought up some pretty stupid things… Now I have to keep it. As a memento of silliness.