The polycrisis demands a renewed humanism

After six months of silence and a kind of sabbatical retreat, I return today to republish in full an article that profoundly marked me.

Originally published in Project Syndicate on September 22, 2025, “The Polycrisis Demands a Renewed Humanism” was co-authored with Edgar Morin, following a series of conversations and reflections that became one of the most touching and meaningful intellectual experiences of my life.

During these past months away, I travelled, met, discussed, and reflected with some of the most refined minds I have encountered in recent years. Those conversations deepened my conviction that humanity is entering not only a geopolitical transition, but a civilisational one.

The article I am republishing today explored the idea of “Renewed Humanism” as a response to the polycrisis shaping our world: ecological collapse, democratic decline, technological disruption, fragmentation, and loss of meaning.

But the reflections that followed with Edgar have opened an even broader question, one that will become the foundation of a new long-form essay also embedded in the book.

The central challenge of the 21st century may not simply be competition between powers or civilisations, but whether humanity can rediscover a shared consciousness across civilizations themselves.
Beyond the divisions between West and East, secularism and spirituality, liberalism and authoritarianism, there are deep traditions that continue to speak of interdependence, dignity, community, and shared destiny.

From Renewed Humanism and complexity…
to the Russian idea of Sobornost…
to the Chinese vision of a “Community with a Shared Future for Mankind”…
to the Persian and Sufi traditions of Sa'di, Rumi, and Hafez…

Perhaps the future will depend not on the victory of one civilisation over another, but on humanity’s ability to rediscover itself through dialogue among civilisations.

I am grateful to Edgar Morin for the extraordinary humanity, lucidity, and generosity he continues to embody at nearly 105 years old.

This article is also published on LinkedIn. illuminem Voices is a democratic space presenting the thoughts and opinions of leading Sustainability & Energy writers, their opinions do not necessarily represent those of illuminem.

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