Preface

¿What does Humanity Want? seems like a simple, obvious question to ask. However, what is most striking is that we ask this question at all. The fact that we can even pose such a question reveals a complex set of circumstances that have emerged for the first time in human history. The question is a product of the unique times we live in—shaped by global interconnectedness, globalisation, conceptual homogenisation, and the dominance of a single philosophical and legalistic strain over the rest of the world. These circumstances establish a minimal set of elements that are either shared or imposed on virtually all creatures we call “humans.” By asking this question, we are exploring what defines us, what makes these times special, and what historical and temporal currents have allowed us to even contemplate what humanity wants.

If we break the question down, it revolves around two key terms: humanity and want. The concept of “humanity” is relatively recent, although it has deep historical roots. On one hand, the idea of what it means to be human is, while intuitive, not perfectly defined. In this text, we will examine how the concept of “humanity” came into being, what it represents, who created it, and what status “humanity” holds in the modern world. We will explore who is included within this term, who might not be, who defends it, who opposes it, who speaks “in the name of humanity,” and what that entails.

On the other hand, there is the term want. If defining “humanity” is challenging, “want” is infinitely more complex. Determining what the aggregation of these “humans” living on this planet (or orbiting it) “want” is nearly impossible. We will focus on who within humanity has the agency to “want” something, what is meant by “wanting,” how these wants are determined, and how resources are allocated—or not allocated—to fulfil them. By “want,” we refer to all actions related to a shared consciousness. These actions are taken by individuals, groups, or institutions who claim to represent humanity. We will explore what they “want” to do with this concept of humanity—or whether they can do anything at all. Along the way, we will discuss the limits and capacities of these groups to decide on humanity’s wants, the resources available to them, and the obstacles they face. Finally, we will consider a few possible paths forward, alongside the difficulties inherent in pursuing any of them—or none at all.

Before addressing the core question, this text will first tackle another fundamental one: Why? Why are we even able to ask this question at all? To answer this, we will embark on a journey through time and space. We will begin with humanity’s deep roots in biology and evolution, examining what we share—and do not share—with our fellow living beings. Our journey will navigate geography, science, philosophy, linguistics, academia, history, politics, economics, narratives, and fictions to situate us within this unique moment in time. The aim is to inspire both reflection and action. So, buckle up and enjoy the ride!

We live in extraordinary times. When viewed through the long lens of history, it becomes clear how exceptional this moment is. We are riding the upward curve of exponential growth in all attributes that define humanity. This growth brings with it unprecedented opportunities and challenges, forcing us to rethink how we honour the past, live in the present, and plan for the future. For the first time, these considerations can occur at the level of a collective imagination. Planetary-scale decision-making—a concept only recently conceivable, such as Psychohistory from Asimov—is now part of our reality.

This unique awareness allows us to ask the question central to this text, which compels us to consider what it means to exist in this state of affairs.

This is not an entirely new idea. In 1933, George Orwell observed in Down and Out in Paris and London that humanity was already living in a time where technological development could ensure that the global population was adequately fed, with resources to spare. For Orwell, the fact that this was not happening was a crime. While Orwell may not have explicitly framed his argument in terms of “humanity,” he recognised that resources were being misallocated due to misplaced priorities—especially by those who controlled production and logistics.

In the following essays, we will unwrap how we arrived at the point of asking this unique question: Who can ask it? How? Why? We will explore potential answers, possible solutions, and whether there are any viable alternatives to this trajectory of planetary, collective resource allocation.

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