Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow (Hebrew: ההיסטוריה של המחר) is a book written by Israeli author Yuval Noah Harari, professor at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. The book was first published in Hebrew in 2015 by Dvir publishing; the English-language version was published in September 2016 in the United Kingdom and in February 2017 in the United States.
Homo Deus explores the future of humanity and speculates on the potential developments that could shape our society in the coming centuries. The title of the book, which means “God-man” in Latin, refers to the idea that as humans continue to advance technologically and genetically, we may eventually become a new species altogether.
The Future of humanity
In the book, Harari explores a number of possible scenarios for the future of humanity. One of the central ideas he presents is that as humans continue to advance technologically, we will eventually be able to enhance our physical and mental abilities to the point where we are effectively superhuman. This could include things like increased intelligence, longer lifespans, and improved physical abilities.
Another key idea presented in the book is that as humans continue to evolve, we may eventually develop new forms of consciousness that are vastly different from our own. For example, we may create artificial intelligence that is capable of experiencing emotions and consciousness in ways that are fundamentally different from human consciousness. This could lead to a world where humans and machines coexist, with the machines potentially becoming more advanced than us in certain areas.
Driven by technology: new heights
One of the major themes of the book is the idea that as humans continue to advance technologically, we will have to confront a number of ethical and moral dilemmas. For example, as we develop the ability to enhance our own bodies and minds, we will have to grapple with the question of what makes us human and whether or not it is ethical to modify our own biology. Additionally, as we create increasingly advanced artificial intelligence, we will have to consider the implications of creating beings that may be capable of experiencing consciousness and emotions.
Overall, Homo Deus is a thought-provoking exploration of the potential future of humanity. It presents a number of fascinating ideas about the ways in which technology and science may shape our society in the coming centuries, and raises important questions about the ethical and moral implications of these developments.
