A case for optimism explored
How does the human story move forward? What is forward? What is real progress? Is there a case for optimism as humanists maintain? Or, does science according to Yuval Noah Harari’s book, Homo Deus have the capacity to undermine human progress one day?
Sheefali Asija, artist joins ideaXme as humanism ambassador
Sheefali Asija, internationally acclaimed artist, joins ideaXme as ambassador to evaluate progress, to look at the vehicles for achieving it and to shine a light on humanism. Her unmissable playlist will be added to the ideaXme’s podcast shortly.
Asija will look at Renaissance Italy humanism which manifested in art, architecture, politics, science and literature and compare it to modern day interpretations. She will speak to the biggest drivers of progress today to evaluate what and who is moving the human story forward to identify human potential of the future.
What are humanists?
Many well known and accomplished people are humanists.
Humanists, are known as a group of people who push for “progress”. They recognise the value and agency of human beings individually and collectively and value critical thinking over dogma.
Humanism
“We make sense of the world through logic (science), reason, and evidence, and always seek to treat those around us with warmth, understanding, and respect” Humanism UK.
“Humanism is a progressive lifestance that, without theism or other supernatural beliefs, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead meaningful, ethical lives capable of adding to the greater good of humanity” American Humanist Association.
Our future as humans a case for optimism
Asija is optimistic about our future as humans, so will make a case for optimism. And bring it all to life with fascinating dialogue and artistic endeavours – “to dance a pattern”.
Innovators who move humanity forward
She’ll identify innovators who move humanity “forward”, from historians to physicists. She’ll examine what’s happening now. The past we remember. The past we forgot. The future that in her opinion is waiting.
Whatever your philosophical or religious beliefs, you’ll find thought provoking conversations guaranteed to ignite passion and curiosity and reinvigorate a sense of wonder in our world. All art featured in this article is created by Sheefali Asija.
So, what is ideaXme?
ideaXme is a global ideas movement. A podcast on seven platforms, an ambassador and mentor programme. Ambassadors are volunteer interviewers; whose interviews appear on their playlists on all seven ideaXme platforms. They interview the creators, within their area of specialisation, who “Move the human story forward!”™ ideaXme Ltd. Our objective in doing this is to seed more big ideas.
ideaXme ambassadors are a group of people who like to ask questions, share knowledge and stories, and create debate.
Who is Sheefali Asija?
Asija is a creator, an explorer, an adventurer, a story teller, an artist. Her interests span science, the arts, ethical theory, space, history, futurism and human evolution from both a scientific and philosophical perspective. Her focus, the greatest scientific projects underway to unlock mysteries in the fields of particle physics, research into dark matter and dark energy, gravitational waves, missing antimatter, extra dimensions and the potential existence of the multiverse.
Objective to inspire optimism, determination and hope
Sheefali is an optimist and believer in the power of collaboration. She is compelled to produce works that direct our attention to the many colossal activities underway that inspire optimism, determination and hope. She is interested in individuals who work across diverse sectors.
A mission to further our understanding of the physical universe and encourage collaboration
Her mission is to further our understanding of “the physical universe that manifests the truth that we are a species that can achieve more when we stand together than when we stand apart”.
This ambassadorial role is unlike any other, as Sheefali’s intention is to actually create something, a piece of art, or series of work in collaboration with any individual/s she interviews.
This will be the first time something, other than video, audio and written content is created via ideaXme.
Her latest series of work is Pattern Seekers
All art featured in this article is created by Sheefali Asija.
Her objective in creating this work is to tell the story of our species. Moreover, her ideaXme interviews with creators and subsequent art work promise to do the same.
“We were pattern seeking scientist adventurers before we were hunter gathers or farmers – we saw the shape of a tiger in a bush and ran away, we knew that thunder and lightning might well precede rain so we took shelter – climbed a tree or planted crops depending on where we were in our evolution”. Sheefali Asija.
Inspiration for the Pattern Seekers series:
A poem by Richard P. Feynman, physicist, inspirational philosopher, poet and artist.
Sheefali Asija: “As an artist I have been propelled along by his question”:
‘Is no one inspired by our present picture of the Universe? This value of science remains unsung by singers, you are reduced to hearing not a song or poem, but an evening lecture about it. This is not yet a scientific age. What men are poets who can speak of Jupiter if he were a man, but if he is an immense spinning sphere of methane and ammonia must be silent?’.
Richard P. Feynman’s poem
….I stand at the seashore, alone, start to think
There are the rushing waves, mountains of molecules
Each stupidly minding its own business
Trillions apart, yet forming white surf in unison
Ages on ages, before any eyes could see
Year after year, thunderously pounding the shore as now
For whom, for what?
On a dead planet, with no life to entertain
Never at rest, tortured by energy
Wasted prodigiously by the sun, poured into space
A mite makes the sea roar
Deep in the sea all molecules repeat the patterns of one another
till complex new ones are formed.
They make others like themselves
and a new dance starts.
Growing in size and complexity
Living things, masses of atoms DNA, protein
Dancing a pattern ever more intricate.
Out of the cradle onto dry land
Here it is standing:
Atoms with consciousness; matter with curiosity
Stands at the sea, wonders at wondering
I, a universe of atoms,
An atom in the universe.
The team of ideaXme ambassadors
Sheefali joins seven other ideaXme ambassadors. Michael Seres is ambassador for human health and medical innovation, Mica Moore, is ambassador for sport, Hollie Fraser is ambassador for literature, reading and writing, Stephen Spender is ambassador for music and entertainment, Maeve Rosemary Millwood is rising ambassador fashion, Ana Guzman is space ambassador, Amy Izycky is ambassador for Moving Forward and Richard W Smith is ambassador for the World’s Oceans.
Suggest someone for Sheefali Asija to interview
If you’d like to suggest someone for Sheefali to interview please contact her: [email protected]. Also, a reminder that she doesn’t just want to interview people, she is looking for collaborators to create a wonderful piece of art.
Connect with Sheefali on Instagram @sheefaliasija, ideaXme @ideaxme
ideaXme on Twitter @ideaxm
