Religion - Ethos
Pre-release Data Dump - Quicksilver

Religion — What is an "Ethos" in MOO3: World View
What we're presenting here is a special "behind the screens" look into the design doc for MOO3. Here, we give you a fairly detailed look at how Philosophy and Religion will be modeled in the game. We're not revealing everything, but the core aspects are all here. While reading, you will notice many references to other areas of the design. Sorry we can't elaborate on all of those; this isn't the right forum for that. We're content to let your imaginations fill in any details you can infer from them for now.

Ideals

The Ideal(s) of an Ethos is how it defines its role(s), in game terms. Think of these as the practical tenets by which it leads its followers. These are:

1a. Anti-Technology
[Mutually exclusive with Knowledge]
Those who follow this ideal disdain technology, which they see as creating an artificial world that distracts us from whatís real and important. They also have little fondness for theoretical science, which encourages the development of new technologies. The pressures of maintaining a low-tech way of life in a generally high-tech environment tend to deter all but the most committed from pursuing this ideal.

1b. Knowledge
[Mutually exclusive with Anti-Technology]
Those who accept this ideal place a high value on ìtruth.î While they respect intellectual achievement in every field of endeavor, they are especially interested in discoveries that yield insight into how the universe works. As they see things, a government that fails to consult with experts in order to take advantage of such insight, or that stifles the dissemination of information, is doomed. Likewise, a government that keeps secrets, military or otherwise. Their relentless pursuit of knowledge makes them excellent scientists, but their bluntness and unwillingness to dissemble also means that they are less than ideally suited for diplomacy. Moreover, their aversion to concealing the truth renders them vulnerable to spies.

2a. Aristocracy
[Mutually exclusive with Populism]
Aristocrats believe that the common people are not qualified to govern themselves. Often, on the theory that political skills and public-spiritedness are inheritable (due to nature, nurture, or a combination of both), they favor government by those whose ancestry includes eminent political figures, typically a hereditary nobility. Others believe in an aristocracy based on merit rather than birth, and support allowing only those who have distinguished themselves through service to the empire, or great achievements in military, economic, or scientific endeavors, to participate in government.

2b. Populism
[Mutually exclusive with Aristocracy]
Populists see the well being of the common people as the true measure of a societyís success. To prevent members of the elite from using their power to enhance their own position at the expense of the majority, populists support universal suffrage, so that all will be able to make their voices heard in the halls of government. They also advocate aggressive measures to improve the lot of the most vulnerable members of society, which they see as essential to realizing their ideal of a society in which all are truly equal.

3. Art/Culture
This ideal places a high value on creating beauty and expressing oneself. It sees the production of artistic masterpieces as the acme of achievement for individuals and societies. For those who lack significant aesthetic talents, this ideal holds that the best life is one devoted to cultivating an appreciation for works of genius that others have crafted. Regions where many pursue this ideal produce an abundance of beautiful and entertaining works, making them both pleasant to inhabit and rich sources of exports. The export of expressive works also helps promulgate the viewpoint of those living in such regions, generating sympathy for them abroad.

4a. Ascetic
[Mutually exclusive with Terraforming/Perfect Order]
Ascetics believe that comfort breeds complacency and self-indulgence. They seek out hostile environments, in the hopes that facing the challenges of surviving in dangerous and uncomfortable surroundings will make them tough, disciplined, and self-reliant.

4b. Natural Order
[Mutually exclusive with Terraforming/Perfect Order]
Those who pursue this ideal are committed to preserving the integrity of the natural world. They believe that those who know how to live in harmony with nature can meet their needs without upsetting the delicate natural balance. They strongly oppose terraforming, arguing that intelligent beings are only one small part of nature, and have no right to distort the whole natural order just to enhance their own comfort and convenience. The one point on which they agree with advocates of terraforming, usually their most bitter rivals, is in their abhorrence of ecosystem-destroying weapons.

4c. Terraforming/Perfect Order
[Mutually exclusive with Natural Order and Ascetic]
Those who pursue this ideal see a natural distribution of flora, fauna, and geographic features as random and haphazard. Why leave planets as we find them, they say, when it is possible to create earthly paradises where everything is arranged in a rational order? Thus, they devote their efforts to molding planets into as comfortable and beautiful a form as their talent and ingenuity can devise. They vehemently oppose the use of weapons that deface planets they have improved, or hope to improve in the future.

5. The Chosen
The Chosen believe they have been selected to play a role of cosmic significance. Their certainty that destiny is on their side makes them especially passionate about their ethos. This fervor leads them to initiate ideological disputes with others. Therefore, the Chosen typically provoke a strong reaction; many see the Chosenís stridency as a threat and feel themselves compelled to respond with a vigorous statement of their own beliefs.

6. Conformism
Thoughtful conformists argue that it is foolish to risk oneís well being by championing a controversial idea that provokes social upheaval, revolution, or civil war. They believe that no mere opinion is worth dying for. Whether because they fear schisms or because they are simply unwilling or unable to think for themselves, conformists adopt whatever beliefs the majority of those around them happen to hold.

"For as that stone which by the asperity and irregularity of figure takes more room from others than itself fills, and for the hardness cannot be easily made plain, and thereby hinders the building, is by the builders cast away as unprofitable and troublesome, so also a man that by asperity of nature will strive to retain those things which to himself are superfluous and to others necessary, and for the stubbornness of his passions cannot be corrected, is to be left or cast out of society as cumbersome thereunto." — Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, Part I, Chapter 15

7a. Contemplation
[Mutually exclusive with Wealth]
Those who adhere to this ideal believe that cultivating oneís inner life should take precedence over interacting with the outside world. The contemplative revere those who withdraw from the world and lead a life of meditation and reflection. Their lack of concern for what goes on around them means that they rarely complain about government policies, social conditions, or the economy, but by the same token neither do they devote much time and energy to improving these things.

7b. Wealth
[Mutually exclusive with Contemplation]
According to this ideal, nothing is more important than material well-being. It holds that the economically successful live the best possible lives, not only because they can afford to live opulently, but also because they create value for society, and in so doing demonstrate superior intelligence and discipline. By celebrating the untrammeled pursuit of the almighty AU, this ideal leads many of its adherents to engage in shady deals in order to acquire riches.

8. Cooperation
As believers in cooperation see things, weíre all in this together, so we should all pitch in and do our fair share of whatever needs to be done. Their public-spirited willingness to assist others helps them establish friendly and productive relations with their neighbors. Since teamwork is of paramount importance to them, they are willing to play down differences of opinion, or even make ideological concessions, in the interests of harmony.

9a. Diversity
[Mutually exclusive with Homogeneity]
Advocates of diversity believe that one should always draw on the widest and most varied pool of talent possible. They claim that reaching out to others with abilities and viewpoints that differ from their own results in a cross-pollination of ideas that promotes economic and scientific progress. Moreover, they argue that an organization with a diverse staff will be more flexible and effective than one that has personnel with uniform capacities and only a few predictable strategies available to it.

9b. Homogeneity
[Mutually exclusive with Diversity and Tolerance]
Adherents of this ideal are convinced that a society whose members do not share a common background and way of life is doomed to devolve into an anarchic jumble of quarreling factions. In the interests of social cohesion, they oppose allowing anyone different from themselves into mainstream society. For this reason, an ethos that stresses homogeneity is unlikely to spread to members of races different from that of its original adherents.

9c. Tolerance
[Mutually exclusive with Homogeneity]
The tolerant deny that any one point of view allows one to see the whole truth. Their sense of their own fallibility makes them hesitant about forcefully proclaiming their own beliefs, even to themselves. However, their openness to other ways of seeing the world helps them find common ground with their neighbors, even ones with very different outlooks on life.

9d. Isolationism
[Mutually exclusive with Manifest Destiny/Territorial]
Isolationists believe that diplomacy rarely serves their empireís vital interests, and fear becoming entangled in the affairs of foreign governments. As they see things, in signing trade agreements and the like an empire benefits foreigners at the expense of its own citizens. They prefer to stay home and focus on domestic issues, and become restive if they feel the government is not doing so as well.

9e. Manifest Destiny/Territorial
[Mutually exclusive with Isolationism and Justice/Rights]
Those who subscribe to this ideal believe that their empire should propagate itself as widely as possible, due to the inherent superiority of its population, ethos, and/or system of government. They support the colonization of new worlds (with or without government sponsorship), which helps spread the most perfect society to all corners of the galaxy. Furthermore, they feel it is only right that their empire take over or merge with rival governments so that its enlightened rule can benefit other, less capable peoples.

9f. Justice/Rights
[Mutually exclusive with Homogeneity and Isolationism]
Those who subscribe to this ideal fight against injustice wherever they find it, basing their crusade on the idea that all intelligent beings have certain fundamental rights. They are implacable foes of forced labor and other practices that they see as failures to respect basic rights. They consider governments that violate these rights to be illegitimate, and support their removal, by force if necessary. However, even in times of war they refuse to countenance violating the rights of their opponents.

9g. Security
[Mutually exclusive with Justice/Rights]
Those who pursue this ideal hope to achieve a society free of crime and subversion. They eagerly assist the security forces by providing information about suspected lawbreakers, traitors, and spies. They are not overly concerned when members of the security forces bend the rules or infringe on individual freedoms, as long as they see such measures as necessary in order to apprehend wrongdoers and protect law-abiding citizens. Naturally, they fiercely oppose any initiatives they see as soft on crime.

10a. Evangelical
[Mutually exclusive with Exclusive]
An evangelical ethos stresses the importance of gaining new converts. Since converts are often more enthusiastic about their new way of life than those born into it, evangelists find that success in attracting new believers tends to be a self-perpetuating phenomenon.

10b. Exclusive
[Mutually exclusive with Evangelical]
An ethos that idealizes exclusivity accepts new converts only if they have special qualities. What these special qualities are will vary, but some examples might be high intelligence, belonging to a particular occupation or social class, or being related to other adherents.

11a. Fruitful
[Mutually exclusive with Limited Growth]
Those who accept this ideal see each new life as inherently precious and full of potential. They encourage everyone to bless the world with as many offspring as possible.

11b. Limited Growth
[Mutually exclusive with Fruitful]
Those who accept this ideal advocate measures that restrain population growth. They might fear overpopulation and argue for the use of contraceptive technology, or they might view reproductive behavior as immoral and support chastity.

12a. Honor
[Mutually exclusive with Trickery]
The honorable place a high value on individual moral integrity, and admire those who always choose to do the right thing whether itís expedient or not. Those who take honor seriously have little patience for corrupt or ruthless officials who are willing to cut ethical corners in pursuit of their goals. Military personnel, who must trust one another with their lives, are fiercely loyal to honorable comrades-in-arms.

12b. Trickery
[Mutually exclusive with Honor]
This ideal celebrates those who have the cleverness and nerve to deceive and manipulate others successfully. Tricksters tend to form small, tightly knit bands; they are chary of revealing their secrets to the outsiders on whom they prey. Since tricksters live by their wits, their cons and scams depress productivity in the areas in which they operate. However, their skill at thinking on their feet and their silver tongues make them ideally suited to intelligence work. Even so, wise spymasters keep a close eye on such inveterate intriguers.

13a. Militarism
[Mutually exclusive with Pacifism]
Militarists believe that combat is the ultimate test of personal worth and virtue. Eager to prove themselves in battle, militarists are happiest when opportunities to do so abound. In peacetime, they worry about society becoming soft and decadent, and chafe at their inability to perform deeds of valor comparable to the legendary exploits of their illustrious forebears.

13b. Pacifism
[Mutually exclusive with Militarism]
Pacifists view the use of force as justified only as an absolute last resort. They vehemently oppose fighting in wars, or even having wars conducted in their name, except against an enemy who is clearly the aggressor. For obvious reasons, pacifists are not well suited to military service, but their strong preference for resolving disputes peacefully helps keep social tensions from escalating out of control, and thus makes for a calmer community.

13c. Revenge
[Mutually exclusive with Pacifism]
The vengeful believe that failure to reply in kind to a slight or injury is an intolerable sign of weakness. Unwilling to risk losing face, they never forgive or forget an insult--feuds often last for generations, until all parties involved have died or been killed. Long-standing grudges inhibit economic cooperation, but always provide a ready pretext to start or continue a war against old foes.

14. Order
Champions of the social order in their empire idealize its social arrangements, believing them to be supremely wise and just. They are quick to demand the resignation or removal of those in positions of power who undermine faith in social institutions by taking advantage of the rights and privileges afforded by their station in life while shirking its responsibilities. Confident that the system works, citizens who accept this ideal are sticklers for seeing that everyoneís rights are respected and that proper procedures are followed at all times. Since they are committed to maintaining the status quo, they generally give a great deal of deference to the government unless they become convinced that it has lost its legitimacy and poses a threat to the social order they revere.

15. Rural
Those who pursue this ideal long for the simple life, away from the crowds, complications, and distractions of the city.

16. Physical Perfection
Those who pursue this ideal strive to achieve maximal bodily health and beauty. Their physical fitness makes them better soldiers and helps them resist infections and other maladies. They strongly advocate the use of any new technologies that make it possible for them to develop their bodies even further.