Chapter 1: The Essence of Intimacy

After their encounter, he wiped the moonlight from his skin and observed her. Suspended in the remnants of their connection, she radiated in the moonlight like a dollop of butter. A nightingale sang softly outside, and he reflected on how making love felt like a form of time travel. They transitioned from two distinct individuals to a unified whole and then back again. It was a peculiar sensation, merging with another's body. One moment he felt as if he were part of her; the next, he found himself sitting across the room while she lay in peaceful slumber, independent and separate. He pondered: could love be the eternal endeavor to merge with another being?

In the contemporary world, how can one ignore the myriad unhealthy products paraded as normal or even beneficial? Alcohol, casual relationships. He recalled a time when his phone displayed countless tabs of adult content. Was it truly healthy to ignore such matters? Was it ethical to prioritize a digital connection over a genuine human one? He concluded that while virtual experiences aren't inherently wrong, they become problematic when they overshadow real-life interactions.

The challenge lay in society's tendency to exploit human desires while simultaneously imposing restrictions on consumption. When individuals struggled with their cravings, society labeled them as flawed, suggesting they required therapy, medication, or reprogramming. Perhaps the real issue was society itself.

"Ideas represent higher patterns of value, evolving beyond social constructs. Just as it is more justifiable for a physician to eliminate a germ than a patient, so too is it more acceptable for an idea to dismantle a society than for society to extinguish an idea." -Robert Pirsig, Lila

This idea lingered in his mind as Henry dressed and exited the bedroom, contemplating diminishing value series and a lifestyle centered on moderation. He understood that perceived value often correlates with quantity; rare items are seen as more valuable than those that are abundant. This observation raises questions about intrinsic value—did it even exist? Perhaps all values are merely constructs.

Entering the kitchen, he felt a crumb underfoot. A stain from the previous night’s meal caught his eye as he set the coffee pot to brew. Reflecting, he realized that controlling the perception of value required regulating its abundance. He grunted in agreement, grabbing a cloth to scrub the counter.

Henry contemplated how often sex had interfered with his emotional closeness; he guessed it happened quite a bit. The paradox of sex, which could either complicate or enhance intimacy, puzzled him.

He found himself mulling over moral hierarchies, realizing that he tended to eliminate behaviors not out of self-interest, but for practical reasons. He decided that utility would be his guiding principle. For instance, he hadn't ceased drinking due to its negative impact on his life; rather, he stopped because it hindered his productivity. He didn't abandon infidelity because it was immoral but due to the chaos it brought. His ethical framework was based on stability rather than abstract moral ideals, revealing a different perspective on morality—one that was utilitarian and universally applicable.

Pouring himself a cup of coffee, he settled into a worn chair beside the couch, the carpet feeling like delicate noodles beneath his feet. He gazed at the corner where the wall met the ceiling, contemplating the intersection of dimensions.

He envisioned a world where the most moral actions were those that ensured stability. The more stable something was, the more moral it became. This perspective suggested that morality could be assessed based on its effects on stability. He recognized that morality might possess its own hierarchy, similar to Pirsig's idea of multiple moral systems.

Though he had yet to establish his own moral classification system, the notion of stability remained central to his understanding. Perhaps there was an inherent moral structure to everything.

Henry leaned back in his chair and focused on the blank television screen. With a clear interpretation of values, he could navigate his life effectively. Understanding values would be akin to mastering driving; to define his values, he needed to grasp the broader metaphysical principles at play in his reality.

Taking a cigarette from the pack, he lit it and inhaled deeply, allowing the smoke to envelop his face. He had never viewed smoking as a moral issue, yet wasn’t it? If morality was fundamentally tied to stability, could everything be viewed through a moral lens? This perspective transformed his worldview, suggesting that every object, being, and decision contained moral fibers. Morality, then, wasn’t a distant grading system; it was an inherent aspect of existence.

After finishing his cigarette, he stubbed it out and moved to the couch, staring at a picture framed in ornate faux gold. He imagined ripping it from the wall, envisioning the same idea existing elsewhere, devoid of its previous structure.

Outside, raccoons rummaged through the dumpsters, briefly breaking the evening's silence before retreating. Eventually, he stood, empty cup in hand, and returned to the kitchen, placing his mug on the counter under the dim light, thoughts swirling like a tornado.

As fatigue began to wash over him, he ambled back to the bedroom. She lay undisturbed. Patterns and connections filled his mind as he reflected on morality and stability. Perhaps love was the perpetual pursuit of unity with another.

Chapter 2: The Exploration of Moral Frameworks

In the video titled "Book Discussion: Reframing Ethics Through Dialectics," the speaker delves into the complexities of ethics, challenging conventional ideas and suggesting new frameworks for understanding moral dilemmas.

The second video, "The Puzzle of Moral Foundations Theory," explores various moral foundations, offering insights into the psychological underpinnings of our ethical beliefs and behaviors.

Roman Newell is diligently crafting his debut novel — 20XX — a work of magical realism that examines the intricacies and conflicts of modern society amidst shifting social norms, rapidly advancing technology, and the effects of trauma. Follow Roman's Substack to join the 20XX contact list.