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If from the Baha'i writings we deduce that "At the group level, a concern for justice is the indispensable compass in collective decision making, because it is the only means by which unity of thought and action can be achieved," as a consequence we need to examine what is "the group," what does this "collective" term and specifically what does "collective" mean today and how this concept of "collective" has taken shape over the centuries. Examining the thinking of Baha'u'llah we can say that He intended the "theory of collective evolution" and of the systemic vision of the world, as to say the unification of the entire humankind. (64:1) As we have seen, the promotion of an individual ethical behaviour, even though necessary, can nonetheless be considered as insufficient, on its own, for an effective promotion of an ethical group behaviour, able to change the aspect of life for the inhabitants of the planet. It is indispensable to integrate ethics at the individual level with ethics at the collective level, involving the consciences of each human being and, necessarily, underlying in any case the inherent dignity of each individual without distinctions, realising his intrinsic value and innate abilities. And given that this is applicable for each human being, we can declare that this perspective is in line with the principle of the unity of the human race, the fundamental principle for anything relating to ethics and to justice. (64:2) The principle of the unity of the human race, far from being a mere rhetorical enunciation for utopian hopes, is shaping current education and is destined to increasingly inspire educational and ethical projects and programs. The only guiding principle that can guide our concrete replies to this fundamental question is the principle of the unity of the human race, that forms the basis of the fact that all human beings belong to the same human species representing to a maximum extent its system of aggregation where the concept of unity in diversity finds its maximum realisation. (64:3) Adhering to the principle of the unity of the human race means recognising today that human beings are essentially spiritual beings and therefore the spiritual aspect of human reality, when considered of utmost importance, is the best basis to pursue the balance between the material aspects of life. It is evident that the forces that are pushing progress towards world unity induce us not only to continue in the knowledge and application of the interior virtues at a personal level, but also to give particular relevance to the qualities that come into play in the relationships between the components of different groups and different interests that each one of those components represents. It therefore becomes evident how the two poles of "individual" and "collectivity" (and as a consequence the two ethics, personal and collective) are intrinsically linked and will never reach a sustainable development, if the two ethics will not march side by side: individual awareness and sustainable development.
(64:4)
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