The experiment was conducted by showing the babies a puppet show. In the puppet show there is an elephant puppet and two supporting puppets. In one play the elephant is nice and one of the supporting puppets is mean to the elephant. After the play the children are given the choice as to which supporting puppet they want to play with. In every case they chose the nice puppet.
The next experiment, which I found more interesting, has the elephant being slightly misbehaved. It steals a ball from one of the supporting puppets. One supporting puppet does nothing, while the other one punishes the elephant for stealing the ball. When offered the puppets to play with, in every case the babies liked the puppet that did something about the wrong behaviour. A sense of justice has developed - an instinctual sense of right from wrong and a dislike for greed and not playing fair, before we can even speak or walk.
Imagine if all the bad guys were outcasts instead of leaders.
It seems to me like we’re born with the faculties to live life in a just, compassionate way, but life makes us forget that. Maybe life is all about remembering what we were born with and trying to get back to that state of perfection.
Perhaps we should be asking the babies of the world what our best next steps are.
Anyone want to help produce a puppet show?
I’m wishing you a thought provoking week. May we all get back in touch with the inner knowing we’re born with and may it bring peace on earth.