The measure as written
The rule of UNABATED WITNESS IS THE PROOF states that:
“Accept or implement strategies witnessed by different societies for a very long time without considerable alteration.”
with one exception:
Exception: For convenience, we may exclude slavery (to avoid misinterpretation / misjudgement).
The test, its terms and its measure:
Any disproportionate/evil practice cannot be sustained for a very long period among several societies at the same time. (Here, “a very long time” means many generations, i.e. long enough for a practice to outlive the rulers, systems and fashions under which it began; “different societies” means societies that are far apart in place, language and belief, so that one has not simply copied it from another; and “without considerable alteration” means that the core of the practice stays the same, while its outer form, i.e. the customs and language, may differ from society to society.) (In practice, a practice passes this test when it is found in different societies, even in different forms, while its core survives for a long time and never fails.)
And which societies count as different:
Note: The term “different societies” refers to the big groups rather than small dominative forces.
This sub-section sets out how a practice is tested by unabated witness: whether it is found in different societies, far apart in place, language and belief, even in different forms, while its core survives for many generations and never fails.
What it measures, in plain words
A strategy is to be accepted or implemented when it is "witnessed by different societies for a very long time without considerable alteration". The reason, as it was given: "Any disproportionate/evil practice cannot be sustained for a very long period among several societies at the same time". What has lasted that long, in that many places, has proved itself.
Three terms.
· A very long time. Many generations: long enough for a practice "to outlive the rulers, systems and fashions under which it began".
· Different societies. Societies "far apart in place, language and belief", so that one has not simply copied the practice from another; and the big groups, "rather than small dominative forces".
· Without considerable alteration. "the core of the practice stays the same", while its outer form, the customs and the language, may differ from one society to another.
The exception. Slavery is left out of the test, "to avoid misinterpretation / misjudgement".
The method.
· The search. The practice is looked for in different societies, even in different forms.
· The core. Its core must stay the same in all of them, while its outer form may differ.
· The time. Its core must survive for many generations and never fail.