J. Charles Davis
Albert-Ludwigs
University of Freiburg

Humanity lies groaning, half crushed under the weight of its own progress, do you think that the world has to rethink its idea of progress?
Creation is not a finished product but an evolving entity. In the evolutionary creation, there are unpredictable natural calamities like floods, earthquakes, hurricanes and tsunamis. There are, however, human acts like human mining and deforestations which cause avoidable disasters like floods and global warming. We must avoid such acts that can not only crush humans but damage the entire environment.

Einstein warned that humans have perfect means but confusing goals with technological advancement that has the ability for total annihilation of the world. No doubt, humans are the crown at the apex of creation, as they have special categories making them a superior creature. Some sort of rationality is present in non-human creatures as well, but only humans have the ability to take responsibility for their actions. Humans have a moral capacity that no other living beings have. Moral responsibility is a uniquely human attribute. Progress without ethics would be dangerous.

Creation is not an accident but has a purpose. Humans do not live merely for survival. Aiming for progress itself is self-evident of a purpose. Progress without purpose is self-contradictory. Progress is only a means, not the end. Purpose is the goal and the end. The means must be right to achieve the end. What is the end? Welfare of the entire creation that equals the glory of the creator. The end cannot justify wrong means.

Humans have the intellectual capacity to understand the very purpose of creation. The very sense of creation makes humans to be representatives of God on earth and humble stewards of all creatures. Unlike other creatures whom survival may be the supreme norm, humans are free, moral and responsible beings. They are subjects and not objects and therefore can never be treated as objects or mere means. Harming the human body through abortion, suicide, euthanasia, cloning and all sorts of medical experiments will be an affront to the dignity of human life. Humans are to be responsible co-creators without playing God.

Creation must equally evoke respect for animals and ecology. Every creature has a natural dignity of its own. Harming the mother earth through biotechnological weapons, nuclear bombs and ecological destructions creates imbalances and disturbances in the environment.We must therefore challenge the anthropocentric idea of progress. Ecological destruction is self-destructive, for humans are not outside the creation but one species within it. If humans do not act responsibly while progressing scientifically, they will be crushed under the weight of their own progress.

Do we not sufficiently realize that our future is in our own hands?
In a broader sense, the future is not in our hands entirely. However, within the contingency of human existence, we can control, restrict and avoid certain destructive acts. Apart from the natural loss of lives, humans should realize that the future is in our hands. Scientific committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE) survey of 200 scientists in 50 countries carried out in 1999 informs that climate change, unavailability of water resources, water pollution, deforestation, environmental damage and depletion of ozone are caused by poor national and international management. In fact, ecological management of every individual is important at the local level. States can make norms, but norms alone are not sufficient. Every individual human has to act with a sense of personal responsibility. Whether we like to live or perish, depends also how we live and act. Moral humans should not act irrationally.

For Henri Bergson duration is the continuous progress of the past which gnaws into the future and which swells as it advances, do you… creative evolution in the universe, and what is the responsibility of man?
Bergson used the concept of duration to understand changes within the continuous process of creative evolution. A moment can never be regained. It will be gone. Opportunities do not return. Humans must use the present duration to rectify mistakes of the past in the continuous progress of the evolving creation in order to set a better platform for the future. Bergson says “To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly.” The responsibility of conscious humans is to take good care of the entire creation. It is a battle between flourishing or dooming. It is a question of whether we want to live or perish. Changes in the nature do affect the survival of creatures, for example, we do not find clusters of birds where high voltage electric towers are erected. If we do not act responsibly in the present, the future would be terrifying.

There is obvious selfishness, wilfulness, my country first nationalist commerce that is causing this complicated and disastrous ecological chain reaction, is that true?
Yes. It is true. The world has in fact enough resources for essential needs of the people, but greed and selfishness make the huge gap between the rich and the poor. Humanity in one part of the world cannot be proud of its rich economy, while humanity in another part of the world suffers. Rich nations produce more polluting gas into the air, while poor nations struggle for survival and suffer the most due to air pollution. Greed, selfishness and jealousy cannot be overcome by rules, laws and norms alone. A solution to ecological problems lies in the heart of humans.

World leaders must give up the narrow nationalist ghetto mentality and build bridges. Nationalism is unfortunately gaining momentum presently in the USA under the migrants-rival regime of Trump and under nationalist politics of Modi in India. The idea of one world, one humanity, one family and Vasudeva kutumbakam is lacking. Humanity needs to break the walls and build peace between nations and people, whereas new avataras of nationalist attitudes create walls between people and borders between nations. Humanity is prior to the state.

Competitive profit-oriented market economies must remind us to relive the words of Jesus: humans cannot live by bread alone. Money, economy and commerce are mere means to serve humans and other creatures. Materialism is dangerous and can destroy the unity and peace among people. Nationalism and materialism can create tensions between people and damage the ecology badly.

How do we in all humility admit the need for ecological conversion, and promote “ecological education,” in an effort to deepen “ecological spirituality?
Ecological spirituality, education and conversion is not an option, it is an urgent need. In the incomprehensible universe, there are two paradigms in the ecological system. Equilibrium paradigm believes in a self-regulating, dynamic yet stable world that ecological changes are only apparent that humans need not much worry about them. Non-equilibrium ecological system understands the universe to be non-deterministic and changing and internal and external factors can influence the nature. Whether changes and problems of nature are apparent or real, they affect the existence of living creatures within the present duration. Humans everywhere need to learn to be virtuous with values of humility, wonder, awe, mystery, respect, sanctity, sacramentality of nature, wisdom, etc. While rational mindsmay aspire for progress, virtuous hearts can ensure ecological spirituality and justice.

Many blame population growth as the cause of ecological problems, is the planet overburdened by people?
Bergson said once, “Europe is overpopulated, the world will soon be in the same condition, and if the self-reproduction of man is not rationalized… we shall have war.” Whether the entire planet can be overburdened depends on the belief in the paradigms of equilibrium or non-equilibrium. One set of scientists may consider environmental changes to be apparent that materials move from one form to another while the size of the universe neither increases nor decreases. Others may find the changes to be real within the particular space and duration despite the permanence of the size of the universe. Moving solid materials from one place to another do make imbalances. When we go against the nature, it turns against us. A particular place of the planet can be overburdened by heavy shelters. In the evolving earth, heavy weight artificially parked in one particular place will definitely create disturbances. No doubt population growth has a connection to the ecological crisis. Population growth may also cause competitions, enmities and wars. Responsible parenthood is important to ensure proper sustenance and education.