Summary of the Core Content
This article draws on Stefan Zweig's "The World of Yesterday," which mourns the collapse of the old European humanistic civilization, to express the sorrow of a similar decline in our current era of AI: the spiritual home that has been centered around humans for thousands of years—reading, contemplation, empathy, creativity, and deep connections—is being systematically replaced by a technological civilization that prioritizes efficiency. While the old humanism will not disappear entirely, it will fade from the mainstream and become a niche subject of nostalgia, akin to museum relics. The author believes this is not a crisis of survival, but rather a loss of our spiritual core. We live in an era of material abundance and peace, yet, like Zweig, we watch helplessly as the spiritual home we identify with slowly fades away—a kind of "civilizational longing" that spans centuries.
I. Zweig's Pain and Our Sorrow: The Endings of Two Humanistic Civilizations
During Zweig's time, the old European civilization (rationality, art, fraternity, freedom) was crushed by populist authoritarian violence; his suicide was a refusal to live in a world devoid of spiritual warmth. Today, our sorrow arises from AI technology gradually eroding humanism in a "gentle" manner—instead of wars burning books, algorithms are replacing the core human activities. This is essentially the same loss of a spiritual home, albeit through different means: one through violence, the other through a gradual, insidious process.
II. How AI "Steals" Our Humanistic Lives?
AI does not destroy directly; it replaces the essence of humanity with more efficient methods:
- Reading and thinking have become faster, but also shallower: The deep experience of reading a book slowly and reflecting in solitude is now replaced by quick summaries and AI-generated overviews. We no longer need to spend time understanding things on our own; AI provides answers immediately, omitting the process of reflection.
- Creativity has become easier, but also more superficial: Original writing and genuine expression are diluted by algorithm-generated templates. Using ChatGPT for copywriting or copying论文 formats strips away the soul from creative work.
- Humanistic values have been quantified: The depth and meaning of literature and philosophy are now judged by their practical value and commercial appeal. A book's quality is determined by its sales and traffic, not by the spiritual nourishment it provides.
- Connections between people have become mechanical: The subtle resonance among friends and unexpected deep conversations with strangers are replaced by algorithmic recommendations on social media, making it difficult to encounter surprising encounters that touch our souls.
III. It's Not About Survival Anxiety, but a Sense of Spiritual Displacement
Many think this sorrow is about fear of unemployment or poor living conditions, but that's not the case. Most people today enjoy material abundance and stability, without the threats of war or persecution. The real issue is that the core of civilization has changed. For thousands of years, humanism was central, with spiritual values being the highest pursuit (reading poetry for beauty, not for exams). Now, algorithms and efficiency take precedence, and human qualities like contemplation, empathy, and sensitivity are seen as inefficiencies. When we do something, our first question is often "Is there a faster way?" rather than "What spiritual fulfillment can this activity bring me?"
IV. The Future of the Old Humanism: From Mainstream to Nostalgic Relics
The author believes the old humanism will not disappear completely; it will merely withdraw from the mainstream. Just as in Zweig's memory of old Europe, only a few people will continue to read classic literature, write original works, and engage in deep conversations. The old humanism will become something like artifacts in museums—something we find beautiful but distant from our own reality. In the future, people may view our current cultural practices as relics of bygone times.
V. How Should We Face This Decline?
The author advocates for a "clear-sighted sorrow"—not despairing about life itself, but mourning the twilight of civilization. He suggests we don't have to follow Zweig's path to death; instead, we can hold onto our spiritual home by continuing to read complete books, writing genuine texts, and engaging in meaningful conversations without relying on smartphones. Even if we are mocked for being "outdated," we should not give up those humanistic qualities. This is not about resisting the times, but about protecting our own spiritual corner and preserving the spark of old humanism among a niche audience.
The essence of this article is the concern that technology is diluting the value of humanity. While AI makes us more efficient, it also robs us of the unique spiritual experiences that define what it means to be human. This is not an anti-AI essay; rather, it serves as a reminder to remember those aspects of our nature that make us human.