A Paradigm for the Study of Altered States of Consciousness

The text argues that the word 'right' is misleading when applied to mental events that lead to survival-enhancing behavior. It suggests that such mental sequences should be described with a neutral symbol instead, because calling them 'right' implies an intrinsic moral superiority that does not actually exist. The author contends that the label 'right' is merely a human designation for mental facts that happen to have practical survival value, not a reflection of any inherent quality.

Study at a glance

Abstract

“When man experiences that certain sequences of mental events lead to behavior which has, as a matter of fact, survival value, he calls such mental facts ‘right’. It would be better, however, if instead of this word some neutral symbol were being used for those particular events; because the word ‘right’ leads to the unfortunate notion that some combinations of mental facts are intrinsically better than others. …”