In 2022, the global population reached 7.9 billion, with over 40 million births and nearly 20 million deaths occurring every day. These numbers reflect the immense population size and give rise to countless events. Over the past half-century, technological advancements have brought about global reforms, leading numerous individuals to rise as the new elites of their time. However, many others have felt lost, uncertain, and overwhelmed in the flood of information. Faced with such divisions and the continuous fragmentation of politics, economy, cognition, and social classes, where does humanity's future lie?
Seeking Certainty in Development#
At this moment, let us look back at the path humanity has taken. Perhaps we can find some insights and guidance for the future. The problems we face today have likely been contemplated in every era. Every historical record represents a significant and precise moment in time. By analyzing the experiences of those who lived during those times, we may find the answers we seek.
Humanity is both insignificant and ignorant - this ignorance is in contrast to omniscience, as mentioned in our previous article (NO.002). This is a fact and also the reason why humanity, as a species, is remarkable. We emerge from the chaos and unknown of the world, continuously dividing the objects we encounter, attempting to understand the whole from our limited perspectives. Although these attempts cannot lead us to absolute truth, they greatly expand our knowledge and understanding of the complex existence of the world. It is through these explorations that humanity has survived on this planet and created rich cultures and forms of existence. This process is the development of human intelligence.
Looking at the development of human intelligence, both individuals and communities have made significant progress. The level of intelligence continues to rise, and we have embarked on a path to dominate other species, making humans one of the most prominent species today. However, it is important to note that humans are, in fact, one of the most fragile species (as will be discussed in future articles). Simultaneously, humans have created countless desires during this development process. These desires have fueled rapid progress but also harbored anxiety and metaphors for the future.
Rediscovering the Past#
Since our development process has involved numerous attempts that have propelled the advancement and intellectual growth of our entire population, we may find hidden, reusable logic, paths, or facts from the past. These findings could greatly assist us in better facing future challenges.
1. Relationships between People#
Individuals - We need to reexamine the existence of each individual. Every person is unique and valuable. In contemporary society, the value of individuals has been commodified, which may be practical from a societal cost perspective. However, it is not reasonable. Each person cannot be simply calculated within an economic paradigm. Every individual's existence is multifaceted and immeasurable. We need to value each individual, respect the uniqueness of every life, and strive to understand them, as that is where meaning lies.
Interpersonal Relationships - Relationships between people should not be solely based on simple interests. While material needs are the foundation of our survival, they are just that - a foundation. Emotions and meaning that transcend materialism are the true essence of our humanity. In our future development, we should use technology to assist in discovering the meaning and value of individuals.
2. Political Relationships#
Communities - A community is an aggregation of individuals. Some communities reflect the consciousness of individual opinion leaders, while others represent the consensus of the majority. In any case, there will always be opinions that are not given due consideration. Our goal should be to allow people with similar needs or consciousness to gather freely in various ways, providing them with equal opportunities to express their thoughts through engineering methods.
Intercommunity Relationships - Relationships between different communities are complex. In various systemic environments, there are diverse differences in terms of economics, rights, resources, and culture between communities. It is necessary to use more quantifiable means and engineering methods to rebuild the connections between communities.
Communities and Individuals - When it comes to the relationship between communities and individuals, our initial perception is often "individuals within the community." This implies that individuals are the weaker party in this relationship. We need to reestablish respect for the existence of individuals. Communities are concentrated displays of individual ideas, so individuals' participation in communities should not be subordinate but rather equal cooperation. It should involve flexible mechanisms for joining and leaving. Of course, this will also require individuals to meet stricter requirements. Education for personal growth will play a significant role, and the representation of personal value and the storage of past values will also need to be realized.
3. What Truly Matters!#
After discussing so much, it is important to reiterate that there are things that have been overlooked and forgotten in our development process. We need to revive them and rediscover the innate humanity and vitality within us. We can explore and create better tools and concepts to promote the development of individuals and communities and facilitate cooperation between them.
Insights for the Future#
In this article, we have briefly explored the problems we face and the knowledge or methods we can learn from the past. With the help of these insights, we can enter the future with greater confidence and a better stance.
The growth of knowledge is like a river, like a tree, constantly changing and flowing. These words only represent my thoughts from a certain perspective. They do not represent my complete thoughts on the subject, nor do they signify the end of the discussion. They are merely a starting point or a partial representation. What I say may be wrong, but when we begin to contemplate the present and the past, from the outside to the inside, reanalyzing what you consider to be self-evident, we are constructing meaning.
Regarding the future, I am always filled with anticipation and unease, both for the era and for myself. However, it is precisely this uncertainty that gives us the opportunity to participate. I try not to carry too heavy a burden, delving into the past first. The process of constructing meaning for the future can be effectively guided by examining how meaning was constructed in past eras. The most important aspect of this process is not to focus on the existing results but to understand how the path to those results was established. Let us embark on this journey together, better understanding the past and creating a better future.
Reading List:
Books:
"Winning with Users: A Guide to Web Character Creation and Application Practice"
"Style: The Feeling of Writing in the 21st Century" by Stephen Pinker
"How Blockchain Will Redefine the World" by Tang Wenjian and Lv Wen
"Mastering Bitcoin" by Andreas M. Antonopoulos
"AI Empowerment: AI Redefining Product Managers" by Lian Shilu
"Artificial Intelligence Product Manager" by Zhang Jingyu
"Data Product Manager" by Li Xin
Courses:
"40 Lectures on Western Modern Thought" by Liu Qing
"50 Lectures on Reading and Writing" by Wu Jun
"Fund Investment Course" by Bank Screw
You can also find me here: