Given the rapid changes brought about by scientific progress and the new forms of
economic and social activity, the emphasis has to be on combining a sufficiently
broad general education with the possibility of in- depth work on a selected
number of subjects. Such a general background provides, so to speak, the
passport to lifelong education, in so far as it gives people a taste - but also lays
the foundations - for learning throughout life.
Nothing matters unless it matters to us. COSMOS provides an interdisciplinary
knowledge framework to deal with three questions that matter in some way or
other to every person, in order to fully belong to a community.
The questions are:
How do I relate to the world?. This involves having an awareness of what it means
to be oneself, and gain knowledge of the world by applying scientific logic, set
within a group of values posed by an understanding of things of the spirit. Making
art and understanding the language of artists has, since the time of the Ancient
Greeks, been a mainstay of understanding the world, and this has lead to
'education through art' being proposed as a major feature of learning to become
human. A more recent spiritual answer to the question of how to gain an
understanding of the world appropriate to living in the 21st century, has been the
concept of a 'biocentric conscience', which is an important part of the recovery of
a sense of kinship between humankind and nature
Where to I belong in the world?
Having a sense of belonging unifies a person's individual genealogical identity and
his or her bonding to the past. This is encapsulated in the relationship of people
to particular places, where they meet up with family history or particular
environments that have a spiritual atmosphere because of previous associations
with kin or historical events of deep social signficance. An individual's place in
the world also has an important global dimension in relation to a shared goal of
uniting people around the world to mutual actions. These actions are aimed at
not only saving what we have, but to transform the planet through an increase in
spiritual awareness, translated into action to break down barriers between
cultures yet conserve diversity of people and environments. These ideas of
oneness have long been a basic part of human consciousness, taking countless
forms in the world's spiritual, religious, artistic, and cultural traditions. Indigenous
ways of life, myths showing the interconnectedness of all things, intricate
philosophical systems, literature and art, are just a few of the ways global oneness
has been expressed.
Now, the World Wide Web has made possible for anyone to experience global
interdependence in natural sciences, technology, economics, and ecology; and in
spiritual, cultural, and social movements across the planet. The outcome is a
growing global network of people exchanging ideas, and finding common ground
across different histories, nationalities, languages, interests, and lives.
How should we manage the world?
Climate change and other environmental challenges impact every corner and
community on the planet. We are witnessing the early stirrings of extreme
weather events, melting ice and other climatic manifestations, and it is truly
impressive to see so many communities responding to the challenge with
grassroots enthusiasm and commitment. These responses are centred on
behavioural change in individuals and organisations to bring mass production,
based on the utilisation of natural resources for livelihoods in line with the
conservation of natural resources for their sustainable use. In particular, it is at the
grass roots level of individual and community behaviours that environmental
citizenship has to be encouraged. Environmental crises have to be seen as an
opportunity to move to equilibrium economics, where ecosystems are tapped only
in relation to their ability to produce a surplus for human needs. In this move to
environmental citizenship, education for nature has to become a priority.
How can we change the world?
The problems that have plagued humankind for most of its history can be resolved if
the following steps are taken:
Ending poverty
1. The existing wealth in the world should be distributed to the advantage of the
world’s poorest people, and the elimination of poverty should be the investment
priority for every government and for the international community.
2. Markets should be open and trade reform rather than protectionism should be
promoted, which would benefit everyone through the newer markets and trade
that it would create.
3. Poorer countries should set up commodity stabilisation schemes to stabilise
their export earnings, and protect public revenue by taking strong enforcement
action against corruption. This would provide them with additional funds to invest
in their own economies.
4. Ultimately, in countries where there is enough space, free migration should be
legalised as a tool of wealth redistribution across the world.
Promoting democracy
5. In liberal democracies, there should be greater choice so that people have a real
reason to vote. To this end, new political parties should be supported by some
public funding, so that the public have a genuine choice of policies to vote for.
6. In countries where democracy is limited or non-existent, powerful countries
should not support the repression of democracy for their own strategic interests.
7. Dictators should be offered trade, economic and diplomatic incentives to
democratise their countries.
8. A dictator’s attacks on his own people should be met with the intervention of
human rights monitors, the arrest and trial of members of the regime, and, as a
last resort, internationally supported defensive military action.
Justice
9. Each state and the international community should develop a system of justice to
include an element of targeted, proportionate retribution.
10. Imperialism should be consigned to history and all peoples and states should
promote self-determination.
Peace
11. Everyone should be committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes, and
violence should only be used to defend human life.
12. To stop war, self-determination should be defended, poverty should be
eliminated, and democracy should be established throughout the world.
13. Military arms should be substantially reduced, and no-one should agree to fight
a war for non-defensive purposes.
14. States which create war should be met with isolation and ultimately military
resistance, in order to defend those being attacked.
