"Madness is not only a downfall or illness; it is a central problem for man... This sapiens/demens copiloting is common to all human creation.
"Madness has not [yet] brought the human species to extinction (only the nuclear energies liberated by scientific reason only the development of technical rationality to the detriment of the biosphere could wipe us out).
"Plato already observed that [madness] is the daughter of Hubris, overweening pride. Here blind rage breaks the columns of a temple and there, a cult of Reason feeds the guillotine.
"Education should show and illustrate the multiple facets of human Fate: fate of the human species, individual fate, social fate, historical fate - all these fates mixed together and inseparable.
"One of the essential vocations of the education of the future will be the investigation and study of human complexity. It will lead to knowledge that will give awareness of the common condition of all human beings - the very rich and necessary diversity of individuals, peoples, cultures; and our rootedness as citizens of the Earth."
***
Without question. the achievements of humanity are impressive: sublime works of music, sculpture, painting, literature and architecture. More recently science and technology have brought about radical changes in the way we live; their creations would have been considered miracles only a century or two ago.
Undeniably, the human mind is highly intelligent at certain levels. Yet, this very intelligence is tainted by a lack of maturity and even madness. It has also magnified our capacity for destruction of other life-forms, the planet, and upon humanity itself. And, it appears that this dysfunction is accelerating and intensifying.
The first world war, which began in 1914, killed 10 million human beings and maimed/disfigured countless others. By the end of the 20th century the number of people who died a violent death at the hands of their fellow humans rose to more than 100 million.
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