The Story

What's it all About?

Are They Human Yet? has the boldness to seek the essence of humanity. It dares to try what I had envisaged: to provide a synthesis of knowledge among "the disciplines" that study humanity. It proposes an integrated science of Homo sapiens - a science that would enable the species, humanity, to manage itself better.

The report also looks at the progress of the species. Has it - have we -- actually made any progress, beyond our technological and material successes?

The Lineage of a Species

Are They Human Yet? also traces the history of our species. It gives us the basic knowledge we need to become more successful with our actions out in the world. By understanding the game, the game plan and the rest of the species' behaviors and tendencies, I believe, it can help you achieve some of your own personal goals, as well. And that is another of the reasons I would like to share this draft of Are They Human Yet? with you.

The Story of a Species

The peculiar, tantalizing hubris of this little report, it seems to me, is its aim to tell the story of our species and ourselves on at least three levels:

1) An understanding of our origins and history as a species
2) Its application to our individual lives, here and now, and
3) Its implications for the future prospects -- of ourselves, of our offspring and theirs, and of the species as a whole.

For all three of these reasons, I believe that Are They Human Yet? needs to be read and discussed - and perhaps even revised, at some point in the future, to better reflect what we have learned during this process of review and discussion.

First, the fundamental understanding in the report needs to be understood and debated by many more people. Then, it needs to be connected more widely to the everyday lives of all of us, to personalize it and ground it in our individual personal realities. And finally, we will need to apply it carefully to craft a better future for us all.

We need feedback on how this draft resonates with people who would like to apply it to their own lives. And especially, how it feels to those who would like to give something back, make their own modest contribution to a better future for themselves and their families and the species. For all these reasons - as well as to hone the central hypothesis of the report - are the consultations on this draft so important.

And the net for these consultations is cast as widely as those who care. We are not primarily talking to 'the experts,' here, but to anyone with an interest in the future of humanity. I will tell you later why I believe there are no 'experts' per se on this issue. And how we could not leave it to them, even if they did exist.

And I shall also explain in more detail how you can become involved with this project and your species, our species, and its future. But first, a little more about this bold little draft report, which has the arrogance to ask Are They Human Yet?.

Next: What's in the Report?