The history of ethics has brought proposals such as Plato's Republic, Aristotelian eudemonism, Kantian ethics, or utilitarianism. However, it has not been fully understood that all these ethics are guided by a universal ethical principle: what is good is what ensures the survival of the species. This principle governs our behavior as a social species. This work begins with the study of the vital process to demonstrate this idea and its implications, and it examines the philosophical objections that arise. It shows that only through understanding this principle and embracing its consequences can our species effectively address the serious challenges we face today and advance toward a higher stage, with broad-based altruism as the key driver.