Cognitive Revolution to Capitalist Expansion: Exploring the Illusion of Justice in Human History

The idea of justice is often portrayed as the foundation of civilization, yet a deeper exploration of human history reveals that justice has never been a universal reality. Instead, the development of humankind has consistently been shaped by myths, imagined orders, survival instincts, and the pursuit of power. From the cognitive revolution to the agricultural transition, from the consolidation of empires to the union of capitalism and science, each milestone in history reflects humanitys capacity to cooperate through shared beliefs while simultaneously creating inequalities and hierarchies. The agricultural revolution, for instance, did not simply secure food surpluses; it also entrenched anxieties, labor exploitation, and rigid social structures. Empires extended control over vast populations through narratives of religion and political legitimacy, while capitalism and scientific progress became powerful engines of expansion, innovation, and domination. Industrialization intensified this trajectory, generating both unprecedented technological progress and alarming ecological destruction, as well as social alienation and the breakdown of traditional bonds. The thread that runs through these transformations is not one of justice, but of continuous adaptation through imagined realities and shifting balances of power. In the present age, humanity faces its most decisive challenge: the pursuit of immortality through biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and genetic engineering. This so-called race for overcoming death risks replacing Homo sapiens with post-human or non-organic beings, raising profound ethical and existential questions. Thus, the history of humanity is not a linear progression toward fairness or equality but a complex and often unsettling narrative of myths, survival strategies, and technological ambitions. The future of our species depends not on illusions of justice or immortality but on how responsibly we navigate the powers we have created

Publication Details

Journal
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Published
2025-09-30
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17583180
Primary Topic
Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Cognitive Revolution to Capitalist Expansion: Exploring the Illusion of Justice in Human History

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
article

Cognitive Revolution to Capitalist Expansion: Exploring the Illusion of Justice in Human History

article en

Abstract

The idea of justice is often portrayed as the foundation of civilization, yet a deeper exploration of human history reveals that justice has never been a universal reality. Instead, the development of humankind has consistently been shaped by myths, imagined orders, survival instincts, and the pursuit of power. From the cognitive revolution to the agricultural transition, from the consolidation of empires to the union of capitalism and science, each milestone in history reflects humanitys capacity to cooperate through shared beliefs while simultaneously creating inequalities and hierarchies. The agricultural revolution, for instance, did not simply secure food surpluses; it also entrenched anxieties, labor exploitation, and rigid social structures. Empires extended control over vast populations through narratives of religion and political legitimacy, while capitalism and scientific progress became powerful engines of expansion, innovation, and domination. Industrialization intensified this trajectory, generating both unprecedented technological progress and alarming ecological destruction, as well as social alienation and the breakdown of traditional bonds. The thread that runs through these transformations is not one of justice, but of continuous adaptation through imagined realities and shifting balances of power. In the present age, humanity faces its most decisive challenge: the pursuit of immortality through biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and genetic engineering. This so-called race for overcoming death risks replacing Homo sapiens with post-human or non-organic beings, raising profound ethical and existential questions. Thus, the history of humanity is not a linear progression toward fairness or equality but a complex and often unsettling narrative of myths, survival strategies, and technological ambitions. The future of our species depends not on illusions of justice or immortality but on how responsibly we navigate the powers we have created

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Decent work and economic growth
Openalex Percentile: Top 43%
Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
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