What do you think should be the main goals of humanity, going forward? Do you think we will one day be able to eradicate disease, death, and scarcity? What will humanity strive for, if or when survival is no longer a concern?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In his book Homo Deus<\/em>, Yuval Noah Harari envisions humanity shifting to the next phase of human evolution\u2014the era of Homo Deus. In this era, survival is no longer a concern in most parts of the world. Consequently, humanity will look towards higher goals of immortality, happiness, and divinity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep reading to learn about the projected future of humanity<\/a>, goals to keep in mind, and Yuval Noah Harari’s perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n To understand the projected goals of humanity going forward, we must first look at the obstacles that have hindered human progress<\/a> in the past. For millennia, human beings struggled with three serious problems: famine, plagues, and war. <\/strong>Consequently, all our efforts were aimed at fighting these challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, in the modern era, we\u2019ve mostly overcome these three problems through technological and medical advancement, using <\/strong>information and technology to address life-threatening issues and improve our way of life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Until the 20th century, famine could easily result in 5-10% of a nation\u2019s population starving to death. <\/strong>Resources were scarce, transportation was too slow to rely on imported food, and governments tended to reserve provisions for the elite. This meant natural disasters, stolen livestock, or razed farmland were a death sentence for many people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the last century, leaps in technology and transportation have made famine a non-issue in most areas of the world. <\/strong>While malnutrition is still a problem in some regions, a lack of food doesn\u2019t usually result in death. For example, in France, while 6 million people (10% of the population) don\u2019t know where their next meal is coming from, few actually die of starvation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In many areas of the world, populations struggle more with overeating than starvation.<\/strong> In 2010, malnutrition and famine led to the deaths of about 1 million people worldwide. Comparatively, obesity led to the deaths of about 3 million people worldwide. This access to food means that there are no more natural<\/em> famines, only political<\/em> ones. Every country on the planet can provide basic resources for its people. If a group starves to death, it\u2019s likely because someone in power wanted them to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before the advent of modern medicine, disease was an unexplainable phenomenon.<\/strong> People had little to no understanding of bacteria and viruses and, therefore, viewed disease as a punishment from a divine being. They prayed to gods for salvation and, often, didn\u2019t think to take any other action to combat the illness. The lack of knowledge and medical resources led to the deaths of millions of people a year up until the mid-20th century. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Today, human beings have a much better understanding of infectious diseases. <\/strong>Doctors and medical professionals have the resources and knowledge to combat illness and protect people from contracting diseases. Even as pathogens continue to mutate, doctors are constantly making new discoveries that keep them ahead of the curve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When disease begins to spread, people no longer blame the gods. Instead, they put pressure on governments and medical institutions to find solutions. <\/strong>Significant medical and technological advancements led to lower child mortality rates and disease eradication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When compared to the pandemics of the past, modern pandemics don\u2019t carry the same level of severity as their predecessors. <\/strong>For example, in 2014, the WHO labeled Ebola \u201cthe most severe public health emergency seen in modern times.\u201d However, the epidemic was mostly handled by 2015 and only resulted in 11,000 deaths worldwide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Historically, human civilizations adhered to the \u201cLaw of the Jungle,\u201d<\/strong> or the concept that brute force is necessary to superiority or survival. This led to regular conflicts stemming from the need for resources, the desire to colonize, or the belief in religious expansion. This concept was prevalent through WWII, and it forced governments, businesses, and citizens to plan their futures around inevitable war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, in the second half of the 20th century, war became less prevalent in most areas of the world for two reasons: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Because of these factors, war has become the exception, not the rule. <\/strong>Deaths due to violence have decreased drastically in recent years:<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the old obstacles under control and survival no longer a concern in most areas of the world, humanity now looks toward new goals that will usher in the next phase of human evolution<\/a>: immortality, happiness, and divinity.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Historically, people have accepted death as an eventuality. Religions such as Christianity and Islam alleviate the fear of death<\/a> by creating grand depictions of the afterlife offered to those who obey religious standards. Because of these depictions of an afterlife, people haven\u2019t historically focused on preventing death. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, modern science suggests that mortality could eventually be avoidable. <\/strong>Rather than accepting it as inevitable, scientists and doctors believe we can circumvent fatal issues such as disease, war, and natural disasters. This belief drives medical research and scientific exploration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As medical advances continue, people have begun to talk about the possibility of eventual immortality with many large corporations investing in the concept. For example, as of 2015, Google was investing 36% of its $2 billion Google Ventures portfolio in \u201clife sciences.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, eradicating death is a far-off goal. <\/strong>While steps are being taken to discover the secret to immortality, most life science organizations currently focus on expanding life expectancy. For reference, in 1900, average life expectancy was 40; by 2000, it was 70. Using that trend as a guide, some believe that, as early as 2050, people will live twice as long as today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The fight against death will continue to be one of the central goals of humanity. If people find the secret to immortality, they\u2019ll tap into a lucrative market with infinite demand. The power of immortality would spark socio-political wars and could lead to a class divide unlike anything the world has ever known, separating an immortal elite from the rest of society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Historically, people have pushed aside their personal happiness to serve a \u201cgreater\u201d purpose. Originally, this purpose was attached to religion. People were willing to put aside earthly <\/em>happiness in exchange for eternal <\/em>happiness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In recent history, people\u2019s \u201cgreater cause\u201d has shifted to nationalism.<\/strong> People are willing to put aside personal <\/em>happiness to provide national <\/em>happiness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, in the 21st century, we\u2019ve started to value personal happiness over service to a \u201cgreater cause.\u201d Because of this, many have started to question the use of GDP as a barometer of success. While it factors in economic strength<\/a>, it doesn\u2019t factor in the overall happiness of a nation\u2019s populace. Many economists, philosophers, and politicians have pushed for the use of a new barometer: GDH, or gross domestic happiness<\/a>.<\/strong> Their argument is that a prosperous nation is focused on the happiness of its people, not just the strength of its economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, in 1985, South Korea was considered a very poor country, but their suicide rates were quite low (nine deaths for every 100,000 citizens). However, as South Korea became an economic powerhouse, their suicide rates almost quadrupled (36 deaths for every 100,000 citizens). Using GDP as the standard, South Korea has become more successful in recent years. However, the increase in suicides suggests that people\u2019s overall happiness may have actually decreased.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Humanity\u2019s quest for immortality leads to its ultimate goal: divinity.<\/strong> In this context, divinity isn\u2019t <\/em>a metaphysical existence with unlimited power such as the God of the Bible. Instead, it\u2019s closer to the Greek gods or Hindu devas\u2014flawed but powerful beings who have emotions and limitations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019re already accomplishing feats once considered to be \u201cacts of God.\u201d For example, ancient civilizations once considered a healthy harvest to be a \u201cgift from above.\u201d In contrast, modern humans rely on science and technology to create favorable harvest conditions, even when the natural environment is harsh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the quest for divinity, humans will likely \u201cupgrade\u201d along the following paths: <\/p>\n\n\n\n While advancements are typically first created in the name of health, they\u2019re often later used for modification purposes. <\/strong>For example, plastic surgery was first developed to treat wounded soldiers in WWI. However, after the war, healthy people wanted to use it to modify the features of their body that they viewed as \u201cimperfect.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the near future, medical advances will likely continue to lead to modification. Some of the resources used today for unhealthy or wounded individuals may have benefits for the average person. For example, bionic legs currently allow amputees to walk, but they could be used in the future to enhance the speed of a non-amputee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Further in the future, genetic manipulation is likely going to take the same route. For example, today, doctors use DNA testing and in vitro<\/em> fertilization to help couples become pregnant with a low-risk child. The next step of this development is DNA replacement, which is already being done through the use of three-parent embryos (a third party provides their DNA to replace defective mitochondrial DNA). In the future, scientists will likely be able to directly modify all pieces of DNA in a lab, creating genetically \u201cperfect\u201d or even \u201cenhanced\u201d babies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As humanity strives for the new goals of immortality, happiness, and divinity, we often look to history to shape our decision-making<\/a> process. <\/strong>Everything from political views to social norms<\/a> has been influenced by historical actions. For example, prior to the late Middle Ages, no one kept a private lawn. Private lawns came into existence when French and English nobility wanted to show their status by purchasing land that only had aesthetic value. Because of this historical behavior, lawns are common today in residential, commercial, and public spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n People can use historical knowledge combined with new discoveries to influence their decisions. <\/strong>This gives them power over their future trajectory if they choose to use it. For example, if a politician receives controversial information about an opponent, they may be tempted to attack them publicly. However, if they also know that, historically, publicly attacking an opponent can lead to losing voters, they may find a more subtle way to release the information. They use both new information and historical knowledge to influence their choices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, while knowledge is powerful, it’s of limited use.<\/strong> Knowledge that doesn\u2019t influence behavior has no purpose, but knowledge that changes behavior becomes irrelevant. To understand this, consider the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\nEnvisioning the Future of Humanity: Goals and Ideas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Famine<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Plagues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
War<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The New Goals<\/strong> of Humanity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Immortality<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Happiness<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Divinity<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The Power of History, Knowledge, and Information<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n