The Survival Imperative

Survival is the primary need of civilization; therefore, ensuring it is the ultimate purpose of existence.

The Grand Challenges

Together, we can preserve civilization by dedicating our efforts to the following five areas:

1. Sustain Civilization on Earth
2. Ensure Human Survival
3. Expand Human Knowledge
4. Promote Global Unity
5. Advance Post-Earth Civilization

Integrating Survival with Other Life Purposes

While this manifesto proposes ensuring survival as the ultimate purpose of existence, progress in many overlapping pursuits can be achieved along the way. The survival imperative connects strongly to maximizing human flourishing, contributing to justice and equity, stewarding the Earth, and building meaningful relationships and communities.

Biological Foundations for Survival

Human instinct for self-preservation is a powerful motivator for action. Our ability to adapt to changing environments forms a strong foundation for addressing existential risks. Emotions tied to cooperation, hope, and the search for purpose further amplify humanity's capacity for long-term survival.

Evolutionary Limits on Survival

While we are biologically well-suited for survival, our tendency to prioritize immediate threats over long-term risks presents a significant limitation. The comforts of modernity dull our survival instincts, causing us to overlook existential threats. Evolutionary tribalism can hinder collaboration, and overconfidence in human ingenuity may lead to dangerous complacency.

It is essential to recognize and address these limitations to effectively pursue humanity's long-term survival.

Inspiration

• The Dark Forest by Liu Cixin
• Strenuous Life speech by Theodore Roosevelt