What is it that separates humanity from the other creatures that inhabit the Earth? A gorilla has far greater strength than any man. A Cheetah, or even a dog can easily outrun a human. Sea creatures can swim faster and dive deeper. Birds have the power of flight. In matters of physical prowess, we humans are surrounded, on every side, by superiors from the animal kingdom. Consider the vast universe that reveals itself to us on a dark night. The best current estimate of the number of stars in the universe is some 10 to the 22nd power. That is, a 1 followed by 22 zeros. We have, to date, no direct evidence that this universe harbors any thinking beings other than man. Many people, myself included, believe that God exists, but this view is not without controversy. Therefore, as far as is known, every poem or novel, every work of mathematics or science, every painting or sculpture, every symphony and every philosophical argument has its genesis in the human mind. If we exclude beings whose existence is disputed, then, in the immense, possibly infinite, expanse of all creation, human beings stand as the sole keepers of the flame of rational thought.
Surely the above conclusion must lay a significant responsibility upon the collective shoulders of humanity. Are there questions to be asked? Then it is we who must ask them. Are there mysteries to be solved? Then men must solve them. Is there art, music and literature to be created? Then humanity must create it. Is there a future to be built? Then we are the architects. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, we humans are the only game in town. We cannot assume that there are other races in the cosmos to be our partners in thought. Until further notice, we are the custodians of mind.
That being said, we must seek to elevate mental achievement to the highest priority in all cultures. It is wise to try to cultivate a strong and healthy body, but mind is what humans are all about. To admire physical beauty or athletic ability is fine, but such attributes are trivial in comparison with the power of the mind. When cultural norms or economics hinder someone from maximizing his full mental potential, then that person has been cheated out of his birthright as a human being and humanity has been robbed of the contributions that such an individual might have made if allowed to reach his full development. If the minds of the world are to be properly nurtured, then instruction in reasoning and critical thinking must be made part of the educational curriculum from the very beginning. The citizens of the earth must have unrestricted access to education at both the elementary and advanced levels. It is in their own best interest for the peoples of the world to see that not one of their fellow citizens is barred from any educational opportunities by financial hardship, location or social status. Let every human being strive to develop his intellect as far as his own desires and abilities will allow. Only in this way can we mature as a people and stop squandering that which lies at the very heart of what it means to be human – the power of thought.
