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| The Triax |
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The Triax is defined in the book "The Backslider's Guide To Success" by Philip Veasey. The name Triax
refers to three rules or axioms from which, it is claimed, a useful moral code can be derived. They are:
· Have integrity
· Be kind
· Be courageous
This can only work, of course, because the words are given quite specific definitions. Kindness
is regarded as an instinct that has given our species an evolutionary advantage and which different
people exhibit to differing degrees. It also has a spread dimension - many people are fiercely
protective of their families while showing total disregard for most of humanity. Courage is
overcoming our fears and does not exist in the absence of fear. What is unusual about the Triax is the
way Integrity is defined as "not lying to yourself". This is close to
how most people use it but, defined in this way, integrity can act as the missing link that allows the
three axioms to be mutually reinforcing.
When people claim that there is a natural morality that we can all agree upon, they are usually
restricting themselves to things that could be derived from a requirement for kindness which would
suggest that murder and stealing are bad. The second rule of the Triax covers all these but the
three rules working together suggest, for example:
· Without Courage, our Kindness cannot be relied upon and we let down those we love.
· Lying to others may be good or bad:
- White lies might be good when they are told out of kindness but
often not when told out of fear
of the other's reaction.
- If you lie to yourself, you will be dishonest to others as you don't
even have the truth to offer.
· Belief in God is often highly suspect since it can be a refuge of those who lack courage in the
face of the unknowability of things and allow their integrity to be compromised.
Obviously a much better case is made for the Triax in the
book .
N.B. The Triax symbol appearing in the upper left corner of all pages on this site is a registered design
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