Rhodes Forum - World Public Forum "Dialogue of Civilizations"

Civilizational Paradigm of Human Evolution

Despite the general confidence that there is an understanding of what a civilization is, such unambiguity is nonexistent. This notion can be disclosed through sociocultural types, is interpreted as the staging of human development, or as geographically localized human communities.

In the meantime, there are different contexts for the practical objectives and goals that scientists and government leaders face, where such an understanding should be profound and clear. The temporal (stadial) and spacial aspects of the genesis of civilization are intertwined in a complex way making the picture even more blurred.

Various civilizations can objectively dominate, thus posing threat of universalization escalating to the racist theories of the past or aggressive forms of the present-day globalization. However, civilizations can also be a depository of optimal development practices for the whole regions.

A civilization is obviously a form of human community which played and still plays a subjective role in history. However, major changes come with human evolution. Once, civilizations were born, later, there was a time for their confrontation and the futurology of civilizational wars. What lies ahead of civilizations? Will the principle of separation ever turn into its opposite – a uniform human civilization? What will it be like and what are its values, do they exist? Where does the dialogue of civilizations lead? A wide range of issues, from fundamental theoretical up to vital practical, will be addressed at the roundtable meeting.

Main Vectors of Discussion:

• Provided civilizations are human communities, when were they born, what factors form them, are these factors long-standing and will they continue to exist in future?
• What is the universal criterion of human progress and how is it linked to the value bases of various civilizations?
• Is the convergence of civilizations into the uniform human civilization in the course of future megaevolution feasible (if so, when)?
• How are the secular and the religious visions of human differences and their future interrelated?