Moral Observers

The starting point for any discussion of Relativity is to discuss observers. There are well defined mathematical considerations that are applied to Relativistic observers.

Different observers reside at different points in space and time. Different observers may have different frames of reference, referring to the relative velocity of the two observers.

You cannot discuss relativity if only a single observer is involved.  Relativity necessarily involves the differences between the observations of two observers.  You cannot even begin to apply the Principles of Relativity unless the states of two different observes is known.

One remarkable feature of the Theory of Relativity is that it states that there is "no preferred reference frame."  This means that no observer can lay special claim at being able to observe the laws of physics better than any other observer.

Let us wrap the idea of an Observer within the language of Moral Covariance.

A Moral Observer has a reference frame by which he may observe moral laws.  For physical observers, the reference frame is defined by the state of motion.  What components are involved in the reference frame of a Moral Observer?

• Language.  We use words according to the meaning which we hope to convey.  However, our understanding of the meaning is something completely intrinsic.  It is my opinion that most ethical conflicts arise due to the fact that the sender and the receiver of the message are applying different meanings to a particular word.
• Bias.  This is the mechanism a Moral Observer relies on to predict the outcome of ethical queries.  Without a bias we would be ethically handicapped.  Our bias gives us the first approximation when resolving ethical conflicts.
• Incomplete Understanding.  None of us understand everything.  However, the holes in one persons understanding don't always match up with the holes in another persons understanding.  Part of a Moral Observers reference frame is what they do, and what they don't know.
• Rationality.  In special relativity, physical observers are restricted to have states of motion that are not accelerating.  This makes all states of motion equivalent, in that you may always find a reference frame where any given observer is at rest.  The way we will describe this concept of equivalent states in terms of Moral Covariance, is by using the word Rational.  Two Moral Observers should seek to be rationally minded in order to apply Covariance Principles.  Obviously a Moral Observer may be Irrationally minded, but we will restrict the discussion to only Rationally minded individuals, and highlight this restriction by using the term Special Moral Covariance.

Before even beginning to resolve ethical conflicts, a Moral Observer must seek to understand, as much as possible, both their own reference frame and the reference frame of the other party.

As with physical Relativity, Moral Covariance provides subjective freedom.  "There is no preferred Moral Reference frame," (at least among the set of Rational reference frames.) 

Please take note that subjective freedom is not a statement that every ethical model is correct.  This would be like saying that physical Relativity dictates that all physical models are correct, when in fact physical Relativity is the mechanism by which we may determine if physical models are correct or incorrect.

Subjective freedom is a statement that every Moral Observer is equally capable of observing moral laws.  A Christian, a Muslim and an Atheist all have the same capability to acquire moral understanding (given that they have a Rational mindset.)