Yuri Milner’s Eureka Manifesto: Uniting Humanity Through Science and Cooperation
In 2021, Yuri Milner published his short book Eureka Manifesto: The Mission for Our Civilisation. This concise manifesto explores humanity’s place in the Universe, emphasising the vital role of scientific discovery, innovation, and global cooperation.
While the subject matter might seem daunting, Milner presents complex themes like existential threats, cosmological phenomena, and the future of humanity with clarity and ease. His deft approach makes Eureka Manifesto an accessible, thought-provoking read for anyone interested in how we can shape a better tomorrow.
Uniting Humanity Through the Universal Story
Humans often create physical and imaginary barriers that divide us into camps. We engage in wars and fight over limited resources, tending to focus on immediate needs while neglecting long-term consequences.
However, despite our propensity for conflict, we also have an incredible ability to collaborate. Our collective efforts have led us to build cities, governments, and multinational enterprises.
In the opening chapter of Eureka Manifesto, Milner argues that we need a shared mission to address global challenges and help humanity prosper. But with our many differences, where can we discover a unifying goal?
Milner points out that, although our nations, cultures, and values differ widely, we all call Earth our home. He believes that we should expand our vision beyond our immediate surroundings and find our mission in the Universal Story: the interconnected history of the cosmos, our planet, and civilisation.
The Consequences of Failure Versus the Promise of Progress
Milner discusses two key reasons why we must take up our shared mission: the consequences of failure and the benefits of success. The costs of failure are dire, ranging from catastrophic man-made extinction events to annihilation at the hands of a hostile alien intelligence.
On the other hand, the potential rewards of success are staggering and profound. We could witness the rise of a galactic civilisation with technologies far beyond our current understanding. Milner envisions that, as our descendants venture further into the Universe, they will cultivate new cultures and ways of life.
As we strive towards this distant future, the discoveries we make along the way will enhance our lives and contribute solutions to the global challenges we face today. For pressing issues such as climate change and resource depletion, science remains our best hope for viable answers.
Read Yuri Milner’s Eureka Manifesto for Free Online
Praised by reviewers as a “cool, inspirational read,” Eureka Manifesto invites readers to consider humanity’s collective destiny and how we can fulfil it. The book is a call to action for everyone who believes in a shared purpose that transcends the divisions of people, nations, and cultures — a mission that could unite us all.
Read Eureka Manifesto for free.
About Yuri Milner
Yuri Milner, a billionaire investor, built his fortune by backing major internet companies such as Facebook and Airbnb through his venture capital firm DST Global. From a young age, Milner dreamt of emulating his scientific heroes — pioneers like Stephen Hawking and Marie Curie who pushed the boundaries of our understanding of the Universe.
After spending a decade as a particle physicist, Milner became a tech entrepreneur and investor. Despite this transition, he continued to follow science and sought ways to support the research community.
In 2012, Milner and his wife Julia became Giving Pledge signatories, promising to donate at least half of their wealth to philanthropic initiatives, primarily in science. That same year, they collaborated with Mark Zuckerberg, Priscilla Chan, Sergey Brin, and Anne Wojcicki to launch the Breakthrough Prize, the world’s most lucrative science and maths award.
In 2015, the Milners established the Breakthrough Junior Challenge. The global competition encourages 13-to-18-year-olds to create short videos explaining challenging scientific concepts. Previous winners have tackled topics ranging from neutrino astronomy to Albert Einstein’s special theory of relativity.
