For decades Wetherill spoke of the social law to whoever would listen, and since his death, his associates are carrying on the work. Wetherill had coined the word humanetics to identify his study, but, for unknown reasons, the public recoiled from the word. The study of nature's law of social behavior is now called the Right-Action Ethic, a system of principles defining right action: Thoughts, words and deeds that are inclusively logical because they work, appropriate to the situation, and moral because they are true to the facts.

People have believed they could make their decisions based on numerous options. Natural law indicates there are just two: Do what is right or do what is wrong. Decades ago Wetherill taught, "There are principles people reason from that determine their success or failure. Among them are counterfeit principles, causing people to behave in a multitude of irrational ways."

When anyone had objected to Wetherill's use of the term "counterfeit" principles, he had replied, "Counterfeit money is not real money. Yet when accepted, it takes on a reality. In that sense, there are counterfeit principles that become real for their victims, causing various kinds of ill-advised behavior."

The following five points define counterfeit principles and give examples. The comprehensive application of those five points enables people to examine their lives in a way that brings about a life that is truly worth living.

1. What are counterfeit principles? They are the thoughts people form when they react in denial to whatever happens in their lives. Examples, "My mind is made up, and nothing will change it" or "Come hell or high water, I'm going to get my fun first" or "I won't look at what I don't want to see."

2. How are counterfeit principles formed? When people react in denial to whatever happens, they form unrealistic thoughts that get lodged in their mental circuits for repeated use. Examples, "When I get mad enough, I do crazy things" or "If I cry, they'll give me my way."

3. What do counterfeit principles cause? They cause attitudes leading to every kind of wrong behavior because they are out of touch with reality. Thereafter the behavior is compulsively repeated. Examples, "Nobody is going to tell me what to do" or "When I'm contradicted, I always lash out."

4. How are counterfeit principles rescinded? When the words of the unreal concepts are recognized as false, they drop from memory and no longer are able to influence a person's behavior.

5. What results? Right thinking becomes clear on the topics formerly distorted by wrong thinking so that rational attitudes prevail. Relationships are repaired and decisions based on right action make life worth living.

A more direct way to rescind counterfeit principles en masse is to stop reacting to the events of life and, instead, to comply with nature's law of right action. To do that, you have to abandon the intent to get your way and to adopt the intent always to think, say, and do what the law defines as right action.

Confirming the existence of the social law does not require laboratory equipment nor technical training—people's conversation and behavior provide ample evidence. For example, in conversation people tend to express a running commentary of counterfeit principles such as "I live my life as I please." Also it is now widely known that people's lifestyles impact their well-being. Medical reports confirm that unhealthy foods, bad habits, and stress cause physical ills.

Then consider the thousands of years it has taken for the public to learn that their thoughts and lifestyles had any bearing on their health and well-being. Even now, some people would rather die than face that truth and change.

To paraphrase Socrates: Think not those faithful who praise your words and actions, but those who kindly call attention to the fact that faults are correctable when you think, say, and do what nature's social law defines as right action.