Skip to content

Fiction Quote by Yuval Noah Harari

“Our late modern world prides itself on recognising, for the first time in history, the basic equality of all humans, yet it might be poised to create the most unequal of all societies. Throughout history, the upper classes always claimed to be smarter, stronger and generally better than the…” quote by Yuval Noah Harari
Download Open image
““Our late modern world prides itself on recognising, for the first time in history, the basic equality of all humans, yet it might be poised to create the most unequal of all societies. Throughout history, the upper classes always claimed to be smarter, stronger and generally better than the underclass. They were usually deluding themselves. A baby born to a poor peasant family was likely to be as intelligent as the crown prince. With the help of new medical capabilities, the pretensions of the upper classes might soon become an objective reality. This is not science fiction. Most science-fiction plots describe a world in which Sapiens – identical to us – enjoy superior technology such as light-speed spaceships and laser guns. The ethical and political dilemmas central to these plots are taken from our own world, and they merely recreate our emotional and social tensions against a futuristic backdrop. Yet the real potential of future technologies is to change Homo sapiens itself, including our emotions and desires, and not merely our vehicles and weapons. What is a spaceship compared to an eternally young cyborg who does not breed and has no sexuality, who can share thoughts directly with other beings, whose abilities to focus and remember are a thousand times greater than our own, and who is never angry or sad, but has emotions and desires that we cannot begin to imagine?””

Yuval Noah Harari

About This Quote

Source Book: Homo Deus, 2015

Future technologies may erase human differences, creating a society where biology and emotions are engineered, raising profound ethical dilemmas.

In simple terms: Tech could equalize or deepen inequality.

Key Takeaway

Consider ethical impacts of tech.

Themes

ethics technology inequality future humanity

Mood

thoughtful cautious

Type

philosophical critical

When to use this quote

  • policy making
  • bioethics debates
  • education curricula

Key Concepts

genetic engineering neuroenhancement AI integration

Questions to Reflect On

  • What rights should enhanced beings have?
  • How to prevent new forms of oppression?
A Different Perspective

Equality may be superficial without addressing power structures.

3.3 out of 5 (4 ratings)

More by Yuval Noah Harari

Explore all 1,200 Yuval Noah Harari quotes

More Fiction quotes

Browse all 7,410 Fiction quotes