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348 A Warning. Either there is no general purpose at all behind the cosmos, Stapledon speculated, or that purpose is something wholly unintelligible to human minds. In that case, it is equally false to say either that there is or that there is not a cosmical purpose, as the truth is beyond our comprehension.’ We hold the future still timidly, but perceive it for the first time as a function of our own action. TTY Daeaat 10908 Many have argued that, as long as we are alone, we have an obligation to assure the survival of Humankind as the only known example of creative intelligence. Assuring our survival requires many courses of action: reduc- ing the danger of conflict, controlling the effects of powerful technologies, limiting our impact on our natural environment, and avoiding the exhaus- tion of essential resources. In the longer run, it also requires expansion beyond the Earth, and ultimately beyond the solar system. Will we take these actions? There are two futures, Bernal told us, the future of desire and the future of fate.” Which will we choose? Our answer will be heavily influenced by our prevailing cultures, our beliefs and our myths, and our opinion of ourselves. Historian J.M. Roberts identified two central myths at the heart of the Western view of history—myths that enabled the West to dominate the world and to set its agenda for the future. The first is the idea that history is meaningful because it has a direction; it is going somewhere. The other is the idea that humans are able to take charge of their destinies. The most important gift of the West is the belief that humanity might control its fate."° The universe has offered us a chance to define our own significance, declared Seielstad. We are in the right place at the right time to be crea- tures of consequence." The test for us will not be just what we are physically able to do, but what we choose to do. Knowledge alone is not enough; we need instrumen- tal means. If life on Earth is unique, then “Now” is a moment of sharp discontinuity between an equilibrium state in which the universe was virtually devoid of life and one in which life will be profuse—at least if we follow our first steps into space with eventual colonization.... Today is the beginning of a bio-eternity. 4.4 1n0M12 The Human Role A Destiny to Choose —J.D. Bernal, 1929° Seeding the Galaxy with Life and Mind —George Seielstad, 1989!”