Future

Not Homo-Deus or Homo-Economicus, But Homo-Noeticus

There are many predictions for the future of humanity. None of them can be real unless we first become something.

It would have been great to know the future and align with the winds of change to maximize our returns. Is it not? That`s why prediction about the next steps in Homo-Sapiens` evolution is attracting a lot of attention. We want to learn because we are in fear — a fear of the unknown that gives so much discomfort.

Is our future Homo-Economicus? I doubt that because we already are Homo-Economicus with our blind attachment to speed, pleasures, and consumption and trying to maximize our own benefit without focusing on the greater good. We end up with sub-optimization in an effort to maximize our returns.

Is it Homo-Macchinus? Trans-humanism can be a reality, improving human capabilities, replacing lost body parts and functions, enhancing the quality of life, and prolonging average life expectancy. But, machines taking over humans is a dream according to me even though it can happen. AI is not a risk now. The risk will start with AGI.

Is our future to become a Homo-Deus? It sounds great, but I do oppose that. Because we are droplets in the cosmic ocean with huge potential. The essence of a droplet is the same as the ocean, BUT the ocean is more than the sum of all droplets, just like a human body is more than a body made of cells. It will be too arrogant to call for Homo-Deus. With increasing intelligence, self-awareness, scientific discoveries, and the support of technology enhancing our human capabilities, we may become a more advanced and developed society of humans. Our new capabilities can make us like the Olympian gods to primitive tribes, but that kind of power does not make anyone a god.

Therefore, no matter what we name or call for the future of Homo-Sapiens, we have to be one thing first — HOMO-NOETICUS, that is the self-knowing human.

2500 years ago, there was an essential carving at the entrance of the Temple of Delphi in Ancient Greece; “KNOW THYSELF.” This word, which was first said by the Spartan Khilon, but somehow associated with Socrates, shows us the path to light.

Why didn’t we understand this quote, even though it was repeated many times in different forms by various people throughout the history of humanity?

The ancient word of alchemists, VITRIOL, was the acronym for “Visita Interiora (Interiorem) Terræ (Tellus) Rectificando Invenies Occultum (Operae) Lapidem” and meant “Visit the interior of the earth and [by] purifying [yourself] you will find the hidden stone.” Unlike its visible meaning, this ancient acronym was about more than finding wealth or gold somewhere and getting rich. It pointed out to an inner journey.

Even the children’s novel “Alice in Wonderland” was nothing but a spiritual journey to our true selves within us. But most adults thought it was a children’s tale and threw it aside.

Similarly, in the East, the Vedic teachings told that the people who have the knowledge of the piece will also understand the whole by saying “the one who knows a piece of clay knows the entire clay.”

Hermes Trismegistus, who was considered to have lived in ancient Egypt thousands of years ago, also pointed out the unity of the macro cosmos and micro cosmos, and shed light on the need to know ourselves to know the whole when he said: “as above, so below.”

1,400 years ago, Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam, said, as if confirming the Vedic texts and Hermes, “he, who knows his Lord, knows himself.”

Why should we not seek ourselves again, like the people of the ancient civilizations? Why shouldn’t we, by knowing ourselves, establish new civilization, and evolve beyond our mistakes?

It is time for Homo-Sapiens to reach the ideal of Homo-Noeticus, that is, the self-knowing human. Homo-Sapiens, which means “the knowing human,” knew science, philosophy, belief, art, and literature, but did not know himself. Since he did not know himself, war, chaos, and conflict prevailed in our world since the beginning of the Neolithic Period. We are lucky we have not yet destroyed ourselves.

The only future is self-conscious humanity that is connected with any form of life, the world, and the cosmos because ALL is ONE and ONE is ALL.

With love,

Kenan

Subscribe to my new YouTube channel to jumpstart your self-improvement journey.