Historical Progress and Its Limitations
Throughout history, the world has faced repeated crises of destruction through war and famine. Each time, humanity has managed to recover and progress, drawing upon the foresight and wisdom of pioneers. Yet one fatal flaw has been left unaddressed: the absence of efforts to elevate the human heart.
Humanity has advanced civilization through the Agricultural Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, and now the Information Revolution. However, alongside these revolutions, a crucial transformation—the reform of the quality of humanity—has not been consciously or effectively pursued.
The Quality of National Leaders
When we look at today’s wars, poverty, and political conflicts, the underlying issue is indeed the lack of awareness among citizens. But the greatest cause lies in the quality of humanity among national leaders, who exert immense influence on society. There exists no system to guarantee their human qualities, nor is there a visible attitude of self-improvement. As a result, leaders remain bound by superficial values, unable to transcend national boundaries, and at times abnormal figures rise to power, plunging the world into chaos.
The Advancement and Misuse of Science and Technology
The misuse of rapidly advancing technologies such as IT is also a grave concern. Of course, legal and punitive regulations are necessary. Yet these remain reactive and cyclical—mere “cat-and-mouse” responses, like an arms race. The only fundamental solution is to raise the quality of humanity of both the experts who create these technologies and the general public who use them.
The Need for an International Movement of Human Reform
Therefore, the improvement of the quality of humanity across the world is indispensable. An international reform movement must begin—first with the reform of national leaders, and then by embedding this reform into national education systems so that it spreads widely and deeply among citizens.
For this, it is essential to clarify the intrinsic human values that should form the basis of humanity, and to articulate them through intrinsic human thought (stories). These must then be compiled into a Universal Human Text (Sacred Text). Such values and philosophies will draw from the words and thoughts of pioneers such as Shakyamuni, Jesus, Muhammad, and the thinkers of Greece and Rome—further reinforced by the latest scientific knowledge. We expect these to be refined and deepened through the activities of this Institute.
The Proposal of “Renaissance 2.0”
If we call the broad movement that broke through the darkness of the Middle Ages and ushered in the modern era the “Renaissance,” then this long-term reform of the quality of humanity deserves the name “Second Renaissance” or “Renaissance 2.0.”
The Renaissance in Italy sought the recovery of human dignity rooted in Greek civilization. It brought forth the Reformation, liberating people from the oppressive rule of popes and the Church, and opened the way to the modern era. That momentum carried through the American Revolution and the French Revolution, giving birth to modern civilization—though at the cost of much bloodshed—based on the respect for the individual and democracy. It further fueled the Industrial Revolution, capitalism, and the advancement of science and technology.
Yet what we see today is a world fractured by excessive individualism, excessive capitalism, the arrogance of great powers, and the widening gap between rich and poor. Human bonds have been severed, trust has been lost, and as a result, conflicts, disputes, and wars continue to recur.
The Significance and Outlook of the Institute
To resolve these issues, it is vital to restore the human heart, rebuild bonds of trust between people, and begin a reform movement to elevate the quality of humanity. This movement, we hope, will grow into a great “Second Renaissance” (a revolution without bloodshed).
With this aspiration, we established this Institute and have taken the first step forward.
The activities of this Institute are broad in scope and will require generations—even centuries—to achieve their goals. Yet we believe they are indispensable for humanity. We sincerely hope that many people will join us, that the movement to reform the quality of humanity will expand and be passed down across generations, and that one day it will blossom into a bright and flourishing future for all humankind.