Abstract

The monograph At the Crossroads of Ages: Choosing a Strategy for Building the Future by Belarusian philosopher P.A. Vodopyanov, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, presents a comprehensive and thought-provoking study focused on identifying and analyzing strategies that contribute to achieving a sustainable and secure future for humanity. In the face of escalating global challenges, such as ecological crises, the depletion of natural resources, and the looming threat of pandemic diseases, the author highlights the critical need to fundamentally rethink and transform the prevailing anthropocentric approach to nature. P.A. Vodopyanov advocates for a profound shift from the consumerist ideology that has long dominated modern society to the cultivation of a new type of mentality and morality, emphasizing the paramount importance of aligning economic activities with the intricate laws governing the evolution of the biosphere. The author delves into the complex problems surrounding the preservation of the biosphere, illuminating its remarkable resilience and the crucial role of maintaining biological diversity in ensuring its stability. Central to P.A. Vodopyanov’s argument is the assertion that understanding and incorporating the intricate mechanisms that underpin the stability of the biosphere into environmental policy is of utmost importance in preventing environmental degradation and maintaining the delicate balance of the biosphere. These mechanisms include the hierarchical organization of living systems, the presence of redundant and backup elements, and the homeostatic processes that enable organisms to adapt to changing environmental conditions. The monograph dedicates significant attention to the analysis of evolutionary processes, exploring the directionality of ontogenetic and phylogenetic development and the profound significance of stability in the evolution of living nature. In his concluding remarks, P.A. Vodopyanov issues a compelling call for a radical restructuring of value orientations in the interaction between society and nature, stressing the vital importance of aligning economic development with the fundamental laws of biosphere evolution, and also proposes a compelling formulation of a moral imperative that demands human actions to be consistent with the laws governing the biosphere’s evolution, ensuring the survival and flourishing of humanity in the face of extreme environmental challenges.