41. Future humans are our babies
Posted by T. T. and P. R. in December 2020.
Professor Maciej Nalecz (1922-2009) [1] was a Polish scholar who had been mainly involved in the field of biomedical engineering, and was also a member of a nuclear-free-world movement named The Pugwash Conference, to which the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded in 1995 when he served as the chairman. This means that his whole life was dedicated on the one hand to saving the life of each individual and, on the other hand, to saving the whole of humankind.
In 1975, Maciej Nalecz established the Institute of Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering in Warsaw, and he had been involved in its administration until almost the end of his life. Since 1988, the construction of new institute buildings housing research labs and additional facilities had continued progressively. Every time I visited there, he would show me the latest new development and he would proudly say, “This is my baby!”. He fostered these offspring and loved them as if they were his own children.
As part of the first phase of the construction of the institute buildings, an auditorium and a hotel with 20 rooms were built for hosting international seminars. Actually, more than 100 international seminars had been held there, inviting more than 5,000 participants from more than 40 countries during the first 20 years. Now his babies have grown up and are taking unique rolls in international cooperation within the field of biomedical engineering. After his death in 2009, his name was given to the institute, as the Nalecz Institute of Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering.
Future humans will be born and will grow up in future societies, fostered by their parents and cared for by surrounding future people. More than that, new babies born in the future will inherit a rich cultural legacy, succeeded from past generations. Our generation can create a part of this legacy to be gained by new babies in the distant future. If we can create everlasting nuclear-free-world-peace, it can undoubtedly be a great gift to the new born babies in the distant future. Practical technologies which could help to create a safe, stable, society in which to live can also be great gifts.
If we can feel that future humans are our babies, we would love them quite naturally, and we would want to gift them without expecting any return. Future babies might then grow and inspire goodness, packed in the inherited legacy, including our gifts, so that a wholesome and rich life can be enjoyed. More than that, they could be motivated to dedicate their own life to ensure that further distant future humans do not suffer from the temptations of self-centredness. Such a speculation will not necessarily be an over-optimistic view, because, Professor Nalecz demonstrated that his beloved ‘baby’ had actually grown up and carried out positive, thoughtful rolls, as he had dreamed.
Note
[1] Maciej Nalecz, Polish name: Maciej Nałęcz, Polish pronouciation: [ˈmat͡ɕɛj ˈnawɛnt͡ʂ].
