Humanity as a whole - a call for change

As a neuroscientist with a background in physics and biophysics, and now an entrepreneur, I spend most of my time with my team developing a novel brain image analysis platform, talking to business leaders, and reflecting on the complexity of life. Living in vastly different societies—Iran, Sweden, and the USA—and being part of professional communities in science, art, and business, I’ve seen that, regardless of our environment or role, certain challenges affect all of us, collectively, as humanity.

Our evolution as humans is distinct from that of nature. In nature, growth happens through continuous adaptation, with survival as the only guiding measure. But humans navigate multiple and often conflicting environments—family, work, society, global markets—each with different values. This lack of coherence creates disconnection that leaves us questioning which values to follow and what direction to pursue.

If we are to evolve meaningfully, we must align our personal, day-to-day environments with the larger systems we live in, such as society and the global economy. Without this alignment, humanity risks losing its sense of direction, adapting to environments that reward power and profit over empathy and integrity. This disconnection pulls us in conflicting directions, making it harder to achieve a unified purpose or collective growth.

A shared value system across all levels of life would help us bridge the gap between personal and societal goals, creating environments that reinforce one another and nurture both individual and collective well-being. We face a choice: to adapt to an impersonal, profit-driven world, or to build a world where human values like compassion and resilience matter as much in macro-environments as they do in personal spaces. The outcome will determine whether our evolution benefits all of humanity or only a select few.

Ultimately, aligning our micro and macro environments isn’t just about survival; it’s about finding purpose in a world of rapid change. Without this unity, we risk a future where humanity lacks direction. Only by bridging this gap can we create a resilient, connected path forward—one where our shared values shape our world rather than reacting passively to it.

As technology increasingly shifts decision-making from humans to machines, our ability to live fully human lives—with meaning, creativity, and empathy—diminishes. We’re inundated with endless advice on “success” and “optimization,” yet at higher levels of decision-making, we’re left with results that are confusing, contradictory, and often disappointing. It’s as if we’re spinning in circles, unsure of what’s right or wrong.

In the business world, for instance, people often overlook a leader’s lack of ethics if their products succeed in the market. Even those with strong values begin to believe this is the price of success. The idea that large-scale goals justify moral compromises contradicts our fundamental values. The future of humanity can only improve if we strengthen our values alongside our achievements.

Should we simply do our best on a personal level, hoping it impacts society, or can we actively reshape larger environments through small-scale actions that ripple outward? Perhaps living a truly human life means refusing to take a passive role, recognizing that our everyday actions—guided by empathy and purpose—can set examples that gradually influence the systems around us.

We can make our personal values resonate within larger structures by seeking communities aligned with our beliefs, supporting businesses that prioritize ethics, or advocating for policies that reflect human-centered priorities. By integrating our personal and societal responsibilities, we might create a more connected world where individual actions reinforce collective impact, leading to a future where our values actively shape our environments and thus our evolution.

By Padideh Kamali-Zare , with contributions from Vina Faramarzi & Kaveh Vejdani, MD

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