On November 7, 2024, the trilogy of conferences under the overarching title “Man and His Creations”came to a close.
The distinctiveness of the third conference lay in its focus on the perpetual transformation of humanity through its own creations, the exponential growth of technology, and the reality of climate change.
At its core, it sought to answer the question: “Who will the next human being be?” To that end, 55 speakers from a wide range of disciplines were invited to respond on existential, sociological, technological, philosophical, and spiritual levels.
The proceedings of the third conference led, among other conclusions, to the recognition that the new Human—the transformed human—will not be defined by the anonymous mass, but by their capacity to:
- Resist the mechanical uniformity of the world (the technological image, hyperreality, passive consumption).
- Serve as a compass for others, opening new pathways.
The next human is not the collective; he or she is the exception.
They are the living proof that even within uniformity, the possibility of Freedom endures. They are the point of orientation, the upright figure in the storm, the gaze that refuses to be blinded by illusion.
The question is not what “humanity” as a whole will do with Artificial Intelligence, with technology, with the new world that is emerging.
The question is: Which human will stand upright before the wave?
Who will endure the sight of themselves reflected in the chaos?
Who will accept that the wave is not merely a threat, but a call to a new trial?
The next human must resist in three ways:
- In relation to Technology
They will not allow it to become a master, nor permit themselves to be absorbed into the oblivion of hyperreality.
They will see it as a tool, not an idol.
They will use it to create, not to erase themselves. - In relation to Society
They will not submit to the mass, nor be defined by the anonymous opinion of the crowd.
They will understand that truth is born of the individual who dares to stand against the “everyone.”
They will live as a point of reference, even if that means solitude.
- In relation to the Self
They will look fear, uncertainty, and the weight of the times directly in the eye.
They will not seek refuge in illusion, but grounding in reality.
They will choose creation over resignation, memory over oblivion, freedom over comfort.
The next human is not merely the product of evolution; they are an act of decision.
They are not born of the multitude, but of inner resolve.
They are the exception that becomes a flame for others.
And every time the wave rises threateningly, the next human becomes the point that proves:
- Humanityisnotlost.
- Freedomdoesnotfade.
- Creationendures.
George Psathas,
President of ATHENS calls ATHENS