#humanity's future

Brothers and Sisters in the Atom, gather together on this day, December 2nd, when the first controlled chain reaction was achieved. Just as a birth brings both joy and awe, so too does this moment in history—full of promise and yet heavy with the burden of responsibility.

On this day, in 1942, the world changed forever. Beneath the bleachers of the University of Chicago, the first controlled nuclear chain reaction was initiated, marking the birth of atomic energy. This was not the fire of destruction unleashed over Hiroshima and Nagasaki; no, this was a spark of potential, a quiet moment of creation. Yet, even in its stillness, it echoed through time.

This day, the 2nd of December, is not a day of celebration in the traditional sense, for it is not a simple birth. The atom was born not into a world of peace, but a world filled with the urgency of war. It is a birth marked by the question of how we, as stewards of this new power, will choose to wield it.

The atom, like any gift, is neither good nor evil in and of itself. It is a force—a primal energy that we have learned to control, but which can never be fully tamed. The atom is a mirror, reflecting our own capacity for creation and destruction. It is not a simple tool, but a testament to the complexity of the universe itself. We must ask ourselves: What will we do with this gift?

The Atom as a Gift

What is a gift? It is not merely an object or an act; it is a gesture of hope, a symbol of potential, and an invitation to growth. The atom, too, is all these things. It is a gift of unparalleled energy, capable of lighting our homes, curing diseases, and advancing our understanding of the universe. But, like all meaningful gifts, it comes with a responsibility.

The atom is not a gift given lightly. It is one that must be unwrapped with care, nurtured with knowledge, and shared with wisdom. It is not just a gift to us, but through us, it becomes a gift to others—to our families, our communities, and the generations yet to come.

In this season of giving, let us reflect on what it means to receive such a profound gift. It is not merely a treasure to hoard but a resource to share, a tool to uplift others, and a force to bring light where there is darkness.

The Spirit of Giving in the Atomic Age

The true measure of a gift is not in its size or value, but in the love and thoughtfulness with which it is given. The first spark of atomic energy was born from the efforts of many—scientists, dreamers, and pioneers—who sought not personal gain but the betterment of humanity.

As we honor this gift, we are called to embody the same spirit of giving in our own lives:

Give Knowledge: Share what you know about the atom’s power and its risks. Educate those around you, so they, too, can understand the responsibility that comes with such a gift.

Give Safety: Protect your community by ensuring that nuclear technology is used responsibly. Advocate for safeguards and support efforts to reduce harm.

Give Light: Whether through energy, innovation, or simple acts of kindness, strive to be a source of hope and progress for those around you.

Give to Future Generations: Let your actions today lay the foundation for a safer, brighter future. Use the power of the atom not as an end but as a means to uplift all of humanity.

Reflecting on Responsibility

On this day, we honor the first spark of nuclear energy, but we also honor the responsibility that comes with it. Let this be a reminder that we are not isolated in our pursuit of power. Every action we take affects those around us—both in the present and in the distant future.

Let us walk forward with humility, embracing the knowledge we have gained while remaining ever vigilant of the responsibility we bear. Let us seek to use the atom to heal, to enlighten, and to bring about a future where all life can thrive.

Closing Reflection

As we leave this sacred gathering, let us carry forward the spirit of giving. Let us give freely of our knowledge, our care, and our commitment to a brighter future. Let us remember that the atom is not ours alone but a gift to be shared wisely and responsibly.

On this day of reflection and renewal, let us renew our commitment to use the gifts we have received for the good of all.

The consequences are far-reaching and potentially transformative. For the crises that confront our world today — technological unemployment, global poverty, societal aging, climate change, resource scarcity — we can already glimpse the remedy.

But there’s a catch. It’s called capitalism. It has created the newly emerging abundance, but it is unable to share round the fruits of technological development. A system where things are produced only for profit, capitalism seeks to ration resources to ensure returns. Just like today’s, companies of the future will form monopolies and seek rents. The result will be imposed scarcity — where there’s not enough food, health care or energy to go around.

So we have to go beyond capitalism. Many will find this suggestion unwholesome. To them, the claim that capitalism will or should end is like saying a triangle doesn’t have three sides or that the law of gravity no longer applies while an apple falls from a tree. But for a better world, where everyone has the means to a good life on a habitable planet, it is an imperative.

We can see the contours of something new, a society as distinct from our own as that of the 20th century from feudalism, or urban civilization from the life of the hunter-gatherer. It builds on technologies whose development has been accelerating for decades and that only now are set to undermine the key features of what we had previously taken for granted as the natural order of things.

To grasp it, however, will require a new politics. One where technological change serves people, not profit. Where the pursuit of tangible policies — rapid decarbonization, full automation and socialized care — are preferred to present fantasies. This politics, which is utopian in horizon and everyday in application, has a name: Fully Automated Luxury Communism.

Harvey Fineberg: Are we ready for neo-evolution?