The book which Felix gave to Safie was Volney's Ruins of Empires. Through this book I gained a knowledge of history. It opened before me a door into understanding the manners, governments, and different nations of the world. This book confused me greatly. How was man so powerful and cruel at the same time? Sometimes man seemed to be wicked and godlike to me. For a long time, I could not understand how one man could murder his fellow. or why there were laws and governments. And when I heard of war I turned away with disgust. When I listened to Felix, the strange system of human society was explained to me. I heard of poverty and wealth, money and gold. This book made me look at myself. What was I? I had no money, no friends and no property. I was not even of the same nature as man. I could stand cold and heat easily. I was more powerful. Was a monster from which all men ran and one that all men hated? I cannot describe to you the pain that these thoughts gave me. My sorrow increased with knowledge. Nobody would help me. I admired my kind dwellers, but I could not even talk to them. The gentle words of Agatha and the kind smiles of the Arabian were not for me. The lovely melody of the old man and the interesting conversations with Felix were also not for me. Lonely, unhappy monster! What was I? This question again came to my mind, but I could only answer it with my bitter cries."
Science, unlike politics, is not an ideology or belief system. It is a process. And we know that politicians base policy decisions on more than just the scientific evidence. So even if the science is clear-cut, when it comes to the complexity of human behaviour, decision-making is never value-free. Nor, I have to admit with some reluctance, should it be.
Scientific progress has undoubtedly made our lives immeasurably easier and more comfortable. With the knowledge that has been revealed through science, we have been able to cure diseases, create smartphones and send space missions to the outer Solar System. But this success can sometimes have the adverse effect of giving people false hope and unrealistic expectations. Many can be so blinded by the success of science that they will believe any report or marketing trick that sounds remotely ‘scientific’, whatever the source and however bogus the product may be. This is not their fault, for it is not always straightforward to tell the difference between real scientific evidence and misleading marketing based on unscientific notions.
As the great scientist Newton said, “When I look at the solar system, I see the Earth at the right distance from the sun to receive the proper amounts of heat and light. This did not happen by chance.”
"Scientific research has shown that by focusing on your heart as you feel gratitude, the rhythm of your heart immediately becomes much more even and harmonious, resulting in major improvements to your immune system and health."
"Living with a decreased amount of health means your energy, vitality, immune system, clarity of thought, and every other function of your body and mind is weakened."
The universe is viewed as a hierarchically organized organism in which every part reproduces the whole. The human being is a microcosm (small world) corresponding rigorously to this macrocosm (large world); the body reproduces the plan of the cosmos.
Between humans and the world there exists a system of correspondences and participations that the ritualists, philosophers, alchemists, and physicians have described but certainly not invented. This originally magical feeling of the integral unity of mankind and the natural order has always characterized the Chinese mentality.
Confucianism limited its field of interest to the creation of a moral and political system that fashioned society and the Chinese empire; whereas Daoism, inside the same worldview, represented more personal and metaphysical preoccupations.
Above all, we should treat the large and diverse set of countries in the Global South as partners to progress. Given their growing economies, Indian decisions between investing in new coal plants or more solar power, Brazilian decisions on how to develop their agriculture and exploit their tropical resources, African approaches to mining, protection of biodiversity, and low-carbon urbanization will all help determine whether the world meets the Sustainable Development Goals. Global South countries can be pioneers on sustainable development, whether through Argentinian techniques of ‘dry tilling’ to promote low-carbon farming, or innovations in the development of sustainable biofuels in Kenya, Tanzania and other African countries. India’s recent successes in lunar exploration open a vista to joint research with established space powers on the feasibility of mining for minerals on the moon, or further afield in our solar system. With the right technical support, African countries could undertake the genetic sequencing of new viruses locally, becoming key links in the early warning chain for global health.
Climate change is a systemic problem that does not respect international boundaries and affects all countries in the world. It will require a system-level response to which all countries contribute. Given the collective benefits from action and the collective costs of inaction, as well as the interconnected nature of the necessary solutions, the response must be coordinated globally with the costs shared equitably. Equitably because the solutions should take into account the principle of ‘climate justice’. Those who have historically contributed the most to increased levels of carbon in the atmosphere should logically pay more of the cost, not least because they have become richer faster as a result of their actions.