This month’s column introduces the TST Ethical Roadmap, a moral system for every type of decision from the mundane to war. It starts with a very simple message: be a good person. That gets you through most of ethical life. When things get harder, embrace the normative direction of flourishing for all. When life hits hard, consult the roadmap: Group ethics guides. Personal morality chooses. Act with good intent. Weigh the result. Adjust.
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NATURAL PHILOSOPHY
Science-first philosophy with one goal: flourishing for all. It begins with the split between reality and thought, then adds tools for thinking clearly and living legal, moral, and fair. That fairness includes accepting that others will hold their own religious beliefs.
Science-first philosophy with one goal: flourishing for all. It begins with the split between reality and thought.
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The Prestwood Column
August 2026
The Prestwood Column
Aug 2026
THIS MONTH: Ethics.
By Michael Alan Prestwood
Start with flourishing for all. When more thought is needed, listen to Group Ethics, test the guidance as legal, moral, and fair, and clarify what is actually yours to control.
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Listen to the column, or the research behind it.
Column Research
Stories: Science Philosophy Critical Thinking History Big Bang Metaphysics Evolution Biases Futurism Ancient History Ethics Reasoning
1 Essay + 6 Tidbits
1 Focus
Plus a bonus deep-dive article.
This Month:
— Ethics —
Group ethics guides. Personal morality chooses. Act with good intent. Weigh the result. Adjust.
Greetings!
–Michael Alan Prestwood
6 Research Tidbits
Wisdom Builder Crossroads
The research, stories, and questions that inform this issue.
1 Story »
Ethical Roadmap
New Look
Group ethics guides. Personal morality chooses. Act with good intent. Weigh the result. Adjust.
2 Quote »
“The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.”
- William James
- 1902
You cannot control every thought that enters your mind, but you can learn to control which thoughts receive your attention. That ability gives you real power over stress.
3 Science »
Did morality evolve?
Morality has deep evolutionary roots. Cooperation, empathy, and even some of our more selfish impulses were shaped long before humans began writing ethical rules.
4Philosophy »
Is the Me Too movement consistent with TST Ethics?
Yes. The Me Too movement emphasizes that impact matters, results matter. And, awareness increases responsibility.
5Critical Thinking »
When should you stop following the crowd?
The crowd can carry wisdom, but agreement is not proof. Conformity bias can make group beliefs feel true, while confirmation bias helps keep them that way.
6History!
What did the Nuremberg Trials clarify about moral agents?
The Nuremberg Trials clarified a worldwide principle: following orders does not automatically erase personal responsibility.
Take the deep dive.
Linked Article
Philosophy
Paper
TST Ethical Roadmap: A Process Model for Ethical Guidance and Moral Choice
Ethics
Most decisions need only one guiding principle: act in a way that supports flourishing for all. When more care is required, let Group Ethics guide, let Personal Morality choose, act with good intent, weigh the real-world result, and adjust. Ethics is not finished until reality answers.
The Prestwood Column
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August 2026
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Home of Natural Philosopher Michael Alan Prestwood
TouchstoneTruth is my ongoing exploration of the ideas that help us understand our world and live better within it. I call myself a natural philosopher because I write where science and philosophy meet—following evidence, questioning assumptions, and exploring the great ideas humanity has built along the way. Thanks for taking the journey with me.
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30 Philosophers: A New Look at Timeless Ideas explores how human understanding has evolved — from ancient questions to modern scientific thinking.
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For those who value better thinking over being right.
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