Facing to the Crisis of Human Extinction

Abstract

Our human race is now facing to the greatest mass extinction in the whole history of life. The author, who have been involved in the field of biomedical engineering, worried the fate of our species and published some papers and monographs in which various risk factors possibly relating to human extinction were discussed. Among them, individualism was taken into account in the list of risk factors. Due to the individualism, people tend to be indifferent to others especially to future generations. To avoid this risk, the author tried to persuade people to have compassion to future generations. In order to help intuitive grasp of this concept, the author and Peter Rolfe created a website entitled “Love Future Neighbours”. Another risk factor seriously discussed here is the lack of scientific understanding of mind. Physical side of human nature have been clarified extensively especially in the last century, however, scientific understanding of mental nature is still vacant. This blind spot in scientific understanding cause problems in clinical patient care where advanced physical care is given at one hand, mental care remains at poor level on the other hand. Similar situation may occur for caring future generations. To solve this problem, to establish science of mind must be an urgent matter. The field of biomedical engineering will be a possible ground from where essentially new approach to scientific understanding of mind can be emerged. When the danger of human extinction is becoming reality, such a basic approach to serious risk factors must be most appreciated.