The Humanist Perspective

Life, the universe, and our place in it all, together.

Our universe is unimaginably vast. The nearest galaxy to our own is 25,000 light years away. Yet that is the tiniest fraction of what is out there.

Throughout all of that vast space, life is the rarest element. Intelligent life, even rarer still. Humans are the only species that we know of capable of creating technology able to fundamentally change our lives and our planet, all while considering the philosophical nature of our very existence. 

We have made food more abundant, tunneled through mountains, reversed the flow of rivers, and turned desserts into lush farmland.

The evolution of communication has been astounding. First through sounds turned into words then into languages complete with grammar and syntax. But not just a single language, thousands of them. Each with their own style, flow, and format. All created to serve the needs of different groups.

Next came writing, putting those words into a form that could be shared without sound. Starting with pictures representing creatures or objects. Then more abstract symbols. Until we ended up with dictionaries as thick as tomes.

We wanted to communicate further and faster. Made possible by discovering how to control one of the most powerful forces in nature, electricity.

What other species understands that atoms are made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons? What else understands how you can use those electrons to transfer energy from atom to atom?

A transfer of energy that can travel through wires sometimes hundreds or thousands of miles long.

Those wires were first used to send a signal of energy, simply on and off. It required human ingenuity to figure out how to turn that binary system into a language of its own, Morse Code. 

Humans didn’t stop there.

We wanted to transfer information to everyone, without wires. Sending a signal through an electromagnetic wavelength, allowing any receiver listening to that frequency to receive the energy and output it as sound. The radio was born.

Transmissions evolved from sound to images. Then devices to record those images in order to play them back any moment of any day.

Technology keeps advancing. We now have massive amounts of data stored in large computers. Not just simple data, all of the knowledge of humanity.

Even entire virtual worlds of our own creation. All accessible in a fraction of a second through a single push of a button or tap of a finger.

All the while we desired to explore our universe. We sent probes into space, then ourselves. A species that broke free from its own planet for the first time. A coalition of people all working towards a common goal landed humans on the moon. Those still on Earth watched it happen live on their televisions. 

We build advanced robots and send them to other planets. Create massive telescopes and launch them into space where they unpack themselves with intricate precision before allowing us to control them from Earth. Lenses so powerful that no only do they let us see stars billions of lightyears away, we can actually look back through time.

We express ourselves through writing fictional stories, creating lifelike drawings, abstract paintings, complex sculptures, even massive monuments.

We sing and dance in hundreds of styles and forms. We brighten our lives through comedy and spectacles. No other species has even a fraction of our culture or our creativity.

This incredible journey of mankind. The endless possibilities that still await us. It simply can’t be overstated how unique humans are in the entirety of the universe.

A universe so large, with so much to explore. We still exist on but 1 planet, in one system, in one galaxy, in a universe full of galaxies. So many that every human alive right now could have over 30 galaxies all to themself. Each full of planets, stars, resources and energy.

And that is the humanist perspective. 

That all life is precious, but human life even more so. That we should work together to unlock our potential and expand into space, onto moons, even other planets.

That we should share ideas to create ever greater technology capable of makes our lives better, helping us live longer, reducing our suffering and hardships.

Humanists delight in our differences, instead of hating them. We feel enriched by the various cultures and perspectives that have evolved.

We believe life is both meant to be enjoyed to the fullest and that we should all do our part to help each other, to help humanity.

Everyone is free to be who they are.

Art and expression is as important as science and technology. Societies should be invited to mix and mingle, not be segregated or shut out. It is neither wrong to take time to enjoy life and family, nor to work hard and succeed.

The only enemy of humanity is hatred and greed. Those among us who wish to divide, to hurt, to hold others down when they could raise them up.

Yes, you should make the most of your existence in any way you see fit, but not at the expense of another. There is no need when we can create such abundance for all.

So few need to suffer, yet so many do. A few are so ravenous for power that they will ruin millions of lives, entire countries, economies, even the world itself if that is what it takes and the opportunity presents itself.

We must stand up for humanity whenever such a danger presents itself. We must always maintain empathy and compassion. Because we are all humans.

We are all in this together.