Asimov's Lecture on Humanity

By the end of the 21^st century, Asimov predicts us living in a world without sexism, ageism, and racism.  In fact, Asimov believes that without attaining such facets of equality and fairness, other aspects of an improved life will be unachievable, such as: a lower birth rate, the educational process, technological advancements, our food supply, and our view on war.  Another big hope that Asimov shares in his lecture revolves around the idea that we will have a greater level of tolerance for one another.  Asimov states, “I suppose if we can somehow succeed in convincing the world generally that nobody hates anybody, and that there’s room on earth for all kinds of people, then it will succeed…Everyone is going to have to pretend they’re not racist…And if they pretend long enough, they may get to believe it.”  In essence, we will be more open-minded and will rid ourselves of prejudices.  Once we free ourselves from the negative judgments that fill every crevice our minds, we will thrive and make the world a much better place.

Asimov’s expectations were well thought out and quite insightful, to say the least.  It seems as though he truly had faith in the human race, considering the high standards he carefully laid out of how life should be in the 21^st century.  Although some of Asimov’s predictions have come true, I think that humanity can strive for a better world.  For the most part, we have achieved racial equality and discrimination against woman has been significantly reduced.  Of course, there is always room for improvement.  What really struck me, aside from population size and our technological advancements, were Asimov’s aims for the youth and our education system.  Asimov foresaw an educational process where “every human being has a right to institutional help for education in any field he wishes, in any direction he wishes, at any age he wishes.  Education and learning will be the name of the game.”  He also believed that we would see education “not as a task to be completed, but as a process to be continued.”  I think that Asimov puts the ideal learning process beautifully; it should never end, rather it should continue on like a booming and glistening waterfall, full of life and wonder.  Today, I think that our education system is very skewed and Asimov would be extremely disappointed.  Our society is so grade oriented to the point that if no grade is achievable, most students would say, “Why do the work?”  That is exactly was Asimov didn’t want to happen.  Learning should be a lifelong process, no matter the age or place.  Our schools are so rigid and the days seem so mundane.  Except, I don’t think it really has to be this way.  We need to work together and improve our education system, because if we don’t we have failed – at the most important aspect of life – the aspect that regards knowledge and wisdom.

I find it interesting how towards the end of his speech Asimov speaks of a certain kind of risk and excitement we have lived through.  Asimov basically says that once we have solved racism, ageism, sexism, and war our world is going to become “pretty dull.”  We have lived through hundreds of years of risky history and “it’s sort of a shame to sort of sit around this careful cold world of the 21^st century.”  He also speaks of a new horizon filled with new discoveries and fascinating ideas.

Asimov’s humor is quite entertaining, which makes his speech engaging and enjoyable to read.  Because Asimov is drooling with sarcasm, it adds a certain flavor – invigorating, spicy – to his lecture.  I think that Asimov’s sarcasm helps him to get his point across, because without it, it would lack the impact that he is trying to convey.  Asimov’s sarcasm allows him to be harsh on the fate humanity, but still attracts listeners.  Asimov speaks about his journey getting to the lecture, his experience at Columbia University, and that “science fiction was escape literature.”  He also shares a story he read in 1933 called “The Man Who Awoke.”  In the story, a potion puts a man to sleep for five thousand years and wakes him up, unharmed, in a new era in order to see what the world of the future would look like.  This is just one of the many examples of stories that Asimov intertwines into his lecture.

Asimov’s speech undoubtedly reflects synoptic philosophy, for he is able to see the big picture that life has to offer.  Asimov repeatedly talks about the past, the present, and the future; he is able to piece together a coherent and insightful future that humanity will eventually face.  Asimov uses critical analysis to illustrate his predictions, such as changes in the weather and population size.  He also uses Aristotle's syllogisms to explain is logic and train of thought - major premise, minor premise, and conclusion.  Asimov questions the world in which he lives in and urges the rest of us to do so as well.  He has examined the very essence of life and suggests that the people of his time and of future generations think critically and make the world better, for we have one…and one only.

Asimov leaves us with one last wish.  "I hope you see a world in which mankind has decided to be sane."  Have we seen that world? Or have we let insanity taken over the better of us and diminished such an ideal?