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us 11
---
title: "Understanding Scientology — us-11"
source: https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Library/Shelf/wakefield/us-11.html
retrieved: 2026-06-28
---
Understanding Scientology, by Margery
Wakefield
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Chapter 11
## Ethics -- The Greatest Good for the Greatest Number of Dynamics
Hubbard does not bother to justify the inhumanity of his
Ethics. If families are broken up, if friends are turned against
friends, if suicides occur, if an entrapment of the very spirit that
makes humans human should occur, then that is subsidiary to the aim to
prove Hubbard right. After all, as he is careful to instill into the
outlook of his followers, anything that happens to anyone is fully and
totally that person's own responsibility, they pull it in on themselves,
don't they?
-- The Mindbenders, by Cyril Vosper
R2-45: AN ENORMOUSLY EFFECTIVE PROCESS FOR EXTERIORIZATION
BUT ITS USE IS FROWNED UPON BY THIS SOCIETY AT THIS TIME.
-- Scientology's execution procedure, from Creation of
Human Ability, by L. Ron Hubbard
The systems of thought and mind control devised by Hubbard in
Scientology were very good -- but not perfect. As in all organizations,
there would inevitably be a few troublesome souls who would question,
doubt, and generally resist the program. It was to deal with this
troublesome remnant that Hubbard developed his system of "ethics," a
system which would effectively close the loop of social control in
Scientology.
Like being sent to the principal's office in grade school, the order
"to go to ethics" strikes certain terror in the soul of a Scientologist.
This is because the Ethics Officer holds the ultimate power in
Scientology, the power to apply the dreaded label of "Suppressive
Person" and to cast a member out of Scientology and into spiritual
oblivion for millions of lifetimes to come. A Scientologist will do
almost anything to stay out of trouble with Ethics.
"Ethics" is defined in Scientology as rationality toward the highest
level of survival along the dynamics. But in Scientology, ethics has to
do primarily with the group -- the group being Scientology. Anything
that promotes Scientology or benefits Scientology is therefore defined
as "ethical," whereas anything which is contra-survival for Scientology
becomes, by definition, "unethical."
Similarly, there is a phrase frequently heard in Scientology, "the
greatest good for the greatest number of dynamics," meaning that which
is good for the group (Scientology) and for mankind is more important
and takes precedence over that which is good for the individual. A
dangerous philosophy.
The chart of "ethics conditions" in Scientology is as follows, in
descending sequence:
- Power
- Power Change
- Affluence
- Normal Operation
- Emergency
- Danger
- Nonexistence
- Liability
- Doubt
- Enemy
- Treason
- Confusion
The theory in Scientology is that a person will always be in one of
these conditions with regard to any area of life. So a person could be
in a condition of Affluence at his job, a condition of Emergency in his
marriage, a condition of Nonexistence in his finances, a condition of
Normal Operation with his health, etc.
And for each of the conditions, Hubbard devised a formula which, if
applied, is supposed to cause the person to progress to the next higher
condition. That some of these formulas may not make much sense does not
matter. Because Ron (Hubbard) has said this is what they are, they must
be right. Right?
The formula for the condition of Confusion is, simply: FIND OUT
WHERE YOU ARE.
Once that has been done, the person will move "up" to Treason, for
which the formula is: FIND OUT THAT YOU ARE.
In Enemy, the formula is: FIND OUT WHO YOU REALLY ARE.
The formula for Doubt is a bit more complex.
When one cannot make up one's mind as to an individual, a group,
organization or project a condition of Doubt exists. The formula is:
- Inform oneself honestly of the actual intentions and activities
of that individual, group, project or organization brushing aside all
bias and rumor.
- Examine the statistics of the individual, group, project or
organization.
- Decide on the basis of "the greatest good for the greatest
number of dynamics" whether or not it should be attacked, harmed or
suppressed or helped.
- Evaluate oneself or one's own group, project or organization as
to intentions and objectives.
- Evaluate one's own or one's group, project or organization's
statistics.
- Join or remain in or befriend the one which progresses toward
the greatest good for the greatest number of dynamics and announce the
fact publicly to both sides.
- Do everything possible to improve the actions and statistics of
the person, group, project or organization one has remained in or
joined.
- Suffer on up through the conditions in the new group if one has
changed sides, or the conditions of the group one has remained in if
wavering from it has lowered one's status.
Now "upgraded" by the Ethics Officer to a condition of Liability,
the formula is: