www.Life-Excellence.com

"Yeah. We figure, why make the creatures think about the billions of things that will be going on to keep them alive. We want to free them up to think about their lives, do things they actually want to do, and, my favorite subject, think about and discover the given."

"The given?"

"What the universe is made of, how it works, etc."

"Now, of course, youre referring to the creatures who become scientists?"

"Yeah. Theyre going to have a great time, trying to figure out all we put into this thing."

"What else are the creatures going to think about?"

"I think we have to deal with the hard question."

"Which is?"

"Well, the smartest creatures are going to realize they dont last forever. How is that going to affect them?"

"Hmm, good question."

"I think they should just do what my grandmother always told me and thats to count their blessings."

"Yeah, but that only goes so far. Put yourself in their position. You love another creature. Then the creature you love " "

"" careful now. Do not use the word I disapprove of, whatever you do."

"Yes, sir. The other creature completes his or her life. What do you think? Happy, sad?"

"Im surprised youd ask. No way we want to invent creatures who would be happy at a time like that. How insensitive would that be? I would want creatures who would feel sad."

"Me, too. But not forever."

"Fine. But now lets face up to the question in a general sense. How do they deal with the realization that none of them is going to live forever."

"Well, lets talk about that. Seems to me if theyre smart enough to consider such a question, theyre also smart enough to figure out the choices we had to make."

"In what sense?"

"If every creature lived forever, how long would it take for the planet to fill up? After all, theres only so much space."

"Right. So pretty soon there wouldnt be any room for new creatures."

"Exactly. So I think realizing that should help them understand the overall idea were going with."

"Which is?"

"Lifespans " for creatures, planets, whatever."

"You mean, everything gets a certain share of the whole life of the universe?"

"Right. And if you value it " "

"" Hey, right. Thats it!"

"What?"

"The way theyll finally be able to think."

"Go on."

"If they value life enough, theyll know what a great thing it is to be part of, even if just for part of the whole thing."

"Sounds like a reasonable conclusion to me."

"Right. Theyd realize some life is better than none. In fact, that its pretty fantastic, even if it cant last forever."

"Makes a tremendous amount of sense to me. How much of a share do you think each creature should have? Want to set an amount?"

"Seems kind of stiff and unnatural to me. What do you say we just go with our variety principle?"

"I dont know about letting that go too far. What about the creatures whose lives happen to end very early?"

"Sounds like a sad event, doesnt it?"

"Yes, it does. But if the creatures realize, as I do, that even a moment of life is better than none at all, they should finally be able to make peace with such a sad loss."

"OK, lets say they learn to do that. The question I have is, what will they think of us?"

"Thats a very consequential question."

"I think that, after all is said and done, we can only hope they realize we made what we think are the right decisions."

"Yes, I think thats right. Let me wax poetic here for a moment."

"Go ahead. We could use some poetry about now."

"Lets say one evening theres this intelligent creature, who happens to walk down to a lake that doesnt have ice on it, because the weather is warm. He or she looks up and sees the blue sky with some white clouds in it. The sun is just going down on one crinkle of land or mountain, and its sending this rosy afterglow into the sky. Maybe there are some sky creatures that happen to fly overhead. On the other side of the lake, he or she sees a big piece of leftover material, which right now were calling a moon, that has already made its appearance, because its where it can reflect some of the sunlight. Now, he or she notices that the whole picture in the sky is reflected in the water."

"The person sees the sky looking up and looking down?"

"Yeah. Remember, we said thats what water would do " reflect things that are above it. Anyway, he or she or both of them, if they happen to be a couple, stand there and realize that because of what we did, they can experience such a beautiful sight. What do you think will go on in their minds?"

"I think theyd say, ‘Wow, magnificent! I dont know who invented it, but they sure did a great job.‘"

"I hope so."

"I have one more very interesting question."

"What?"

"When one of the smart creatures completes his or her life, or when these creatures just think about that happening, how much should they know?"

"Can you please clarify the question?"

"Well, should they know if something else does or doesnt come after the lives theyre living?"

"That is a very interesting question."

"Yes, it is. Why dont we look at it from both sides?"

"Go on."

"What if they know for sure theres something afterward. What happens?"

"How much are they going to appreciate what they have?"

"Right. And what are we doing here, going to all this trouble to invent something wonderful if its just a stopover on the way to a better place?"

"Makes sense. Now, lets suppose they know for sure theres nothing after it. What now?"

"Hmm, any thoughts on that?"

"Well, it seems to me that the more they appreciate their lives, the more theyll be able to come to terms with such a thought."

"It would seem that way. But what happens if we just leave the question open?"

"Can we do that?"

"I dont see why not. Were talking about what creatures know in the universe were inventing, not what they know about what might or might not be outside of it."

"Youve got a very convincing point there. They should be able to know everything thats in what were inventing but whats outside of it " "

"" should, at least, not be their primary concern."

"Well, I think it only would be if they didnt see much in what weve done."

"So what if we just leave the question unanswered and let them make up their own minds?"

"Like it. Sounds perfectly appropriate to me."

"And it goes with " "

"" I know, I know, our variety principle."

"I thought the variety thing was quite evident. I wasnt going to say that."

"Oh, sorry. What were you going to say?"

"That it goes with the idea that we said they should be free to make up their own minds."

"Yes, it does. So let me recap. The smarter creatures can learn everything about whats inside the universe were inventing and they can ask questions about what might or might not be outside of it."

"I cant imagine a better arrangement."

"Neither can I. So that does it. My only hope is that these smart creatures appreciate what we invented enough to love whatever they want to think may or may not have invented it."

"Hey, that brings up a really interesting question."

"What?"

"Should there be a way for them to know about us?"

"What? They cant realize we did things like make the place they get to live in magnificent " that blue sky, gold sun, the green plants, all the other creatures?"

"I guess if theyre as smart as we hope they are theyd be able to read a lot about us from that."

"Right. They read backward from what we invented. Its good, were good."

"You mean, good overall? I mean, this freedom thing is going to allow for some really sorrowful events."

"You want to abridge it?"

"No, not within the world they inhabit."

"Right. Once its there, we butt out. How could they plan anything or feel any freedom and dignity if we were always stepping in and changing the rules?"

"Ill go along with that. But lets just suppose they want to express some appreciation for what weve done? What can they do?"

"What do you think?"

"Ill tell you what. The first thing they can do is take good care of what we invented. I mean, show some respect for their lives and do the best they can with them."

"Yeah, some respect for the entire invention."

"If the smart creatures cant figure out something that basic, Im going to be one disappointed dude. And its back to the lab for you."

"Theyll be fine. They may need some time to catch on, but, I can assure you, theyve got what it takes."

"You made sure of that?"

"We did our best. The rest if up to them. More would start to impinge on their freedom."

"Youre right. Lets go with that. They can show their appreciation by taking care of what they can experience. Anything else is an optional extra."

"Agreed. We dont need empty praise while they take their eyes off the ball. Were above that, right?"

"We certainly are. However, Im not too against empty praise as long as they do keep their eyes on the ball."

"Whatever suits them."

"Wisely said. I think weve got wrap."

"Can I just ask one thing, boss?"

"Sure."

"I brought the subject up before, but I cant resist one more try. I think it might really be helpful if the planets that have life on them thats smart enough to read come with an instruction manual. I mean, even the simple things they learn to make, like radios and TVs, will come with instruction manuals. And there they are, looking at this big complex thing called the universe, and theres no instruction manual."

"OK. Lets say for a moment we gave them one, and it had all the answers in it, including how to make everything they would ever discover how to make. Wouldnt that be kind of an insult to their intelligence?"

"Interesting point. I mean, if were giving them brains that are appropriate to their needs, why would we take away the chance to use them?"

"Besides, where are you going to put this instruction manual? On a rock, where theyll see it one day? It all sounds kind of unnatural to me."

"I agree. Its just another way of saying we dont trust what we invented to function on its own. Besides, I like giving them challenges that make them use their brains right down to the last brain cell " or why did we put that last brain cell there?"

"I completely agree. So that does it. Can the instruction manual."

"But, boss. Lets go beyond the basics for a moment to spiritual stuff. If we dont give them an instruction manual, they wont know what to believe. Theyll develop all kinds of different beliefs, and that could cause problems."

"Seems like a natural development to me. But I think youre talking about the early days. Do we or do we not expect these creatures to last for millions of years?"

"At least, where they behave as intelligently as theyve been given the ability to."

"So in time they should figure out that the world they behold is one truth and that, if their beliefs grow out of it, they should pretty much agree on a set of beliefs. You care about the gizmo, you have all the beliefs you need, including how to make us happy."

"And, hopefully, you can see that we believe in them enough to give them the freedom to learn things on their own, so they should read that as its right to give other creatures the freedom to believe whatever they want to."

"As long, course, if they dont hurt anybody."

"I dont know. This all sounds a little optimistic to me."

"Sorry, we absolutely must trust what we invented. So forget the manual."

"OK, OK. You win. No instruction manual. They have to figure out everything for themselves. Hey, how about if we compromise?"

"What do you mean?"

"My notes. Can I at least share them with the creatures who can read?"

"The meeting notes?"

"Yeah."

"I dont know about that. Wont it tell them too much about whats outside of what were inventing?"

"Hmm, I tell you what. Ill think about it and let you know."

"Thanks, boss. I cant ask for more than that."

"OK, then. Just let us know when youre ready to launch the universe. Id like to be there."

"Will do."

"Got a timeframe for the big birth?"

"We should be ready for a go in about a week."

"All right! Looking forward to it!"

"I think we all are. See you then."

So our final meeting came to an end. We had now invented the universe. Soon, we would be ready to rev it up and send it for a spin. And just think! If this universe worked well, who knows? We could decide to go into mass production. I was especially glad that the big boss might give me the go-ahead to release my meeting notes. And guess what? He finally came around. But, of course, now you know that, because you just read them. Enjoy the universe. We sure enjoyed making it. And remember, happy times or sad, we did our very best.