The Name of Man
Rolf. A. F. Witzsche
page 02
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Life has found in man its grandest expression, with an intellect and the creative capacity to take itself beyond the confines of a single planet to people and enrich the universe. Universal history maps out man's footsteps in this unfolding reality. It also maps out its failures. It speaks of bright periods of astounding scientific, technological, and cultural, as well as spiritual development, that have twice culminated into periods of Christ healing. Man's universal history also speaks of dark periods of regressive dynasties, self-appointed oligarchs, feudalist slavery, human destruction, and empires with great power, some of which nearly ended civilization. Still, the reality that is reflected in man is not defined by these failures. Rather it is defined by what has been achieved, and by the still unrealized potential of man that literally has no limits. The realization of this potential, however, requires also a corresponding self-awareness that reflects man's place in this infinity. People may protest, here, and say that I should heed political correctness and speak about "human beings" rather than "man," and the infinite potential of "humankind" instead of "mankind." The logic that demands this compliance appears morally sound, since the term "man" also identifies the male gender and may therefore be deemed sexist. However, there are infinitely greater issues involved in this modern redefinition of the identity of man, with potentially enormous consequences for man's state of civilization. In the process of exploring what the redefinition involves, one must ask whether the modern, redefined identity is still correct. Does it still define a species that has no equal in the known universe, that can step beyond all limits out its own resources?
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