U.S. must lead against global problems such as war, climate change and nuclear threats

Human beings are clearly the dominant life form on this planet. This is often attributed to our large brain, but there are certain behaviors, not unique to humans but with unique human characteristics, that have led to our success.

Three are prominent. First, our ability to communicate. We communicate extensively, both across time (milliseconds to millennia) and space (face-to-face and across the world). Second, our ability to cooperate. We cooperate locally, nationally, and even globally. And third, our ability to empathize, to recognize that other humans have similar desires and concerns. This manifests in a common, cross-cultural “golden rule”.

But as is all too obvious, these skills have a dark side. We can use communication, cooperation, and empathy to enable humanity to thrive and grow, or we can manipulate them for power and self-interest, leading to humanity’s decline and perhaps even our destruction.

Let’s begin with communication. Communication allows us to not only innovate our technologies, but to share knowledge, history and wisdom to live better lives. Our innate nature, as shown by the extraordinary trust of children, is to believe in, and learn from, what is shared. Emotion makes learning more indelible and allows us to respond quickly to future threats.

But communication is distressingly easy to manipulate. Its speed can make us accept certain information without question, especially if it stirs our emotions or fits our preconceived ideas. And, at the same time, we can reject legitimate sources. Communication no longer is used to build up societal knowledge, but to spread misinformation and mistrust. Our inability to consider valid data prevents us from learning and adapting to new realities. Species that don’t adapt, can die.

Similarly, cooperation can either aid or detract from human progress. Global trade, travel, and information technology have made the world a smaller place and driven human progress in many areas including democratic principles and freedoms.

But in the widening of cultural engagement comes the darkness of xenophobia. Even as we connect with other peoples, we can fall back into cooperation with kind, convinced that “our kind” is the “best kind”. The benefits of “loving your enemies”, a positive lesson shown by our current allies Germany and Japan, no longer seems to apply to our next-door neighbor.

Which leads us to empathy. It is a trait that many say has evolved to enable complex social behavior and underlies our other skills in communication and cooperation. However, it requires, like any skill, to be used routinely to stay strong. It also requires a certain humility, a trait that a win-lose, or winner-take-all culture undermines. Why care about others if “my side” is “stronger” or “better”?

When this view takes hold, power becomes admired, and a charismatic leader can propagate a misguided sense of loyalty and duty that benefits the few, harms the vulnerable and decimates the whole. Empathy can shrink inward, strengthening autocracies but leaving behind the dynamism of democracy.

The war in Ukraine puts in stark relief the light and dark sides of communication, cooperation and empathy. There the destructive path is obvious, but the differences may be more subtle at home. Are we using these skills to build up society, or are they being manipulated to gain power and exploit self-interest? Does “winning” preclude “serving”? Can we still empathize? Or have we blurred the distinction between “my rights” and “human rights”?

The challenges our species face, from the pandemic to climate change to war and nuclear threats, requires global cooperation that cannot be solved merely by force or by going it alone.

The U.S. has a unique role. It is the world’s grand experiment testing whether diverse peoples can unite and prosper or fracture and fail. Will we use our skills to build up? Or tear down? We each must choose.

This story was originally published May 12, 2022 at 3:25 PM.