The ancient Indo-Iranic conception of Rta (in the Vedic tradition) or Arta (in Avestan) is far more than a metaphysical relic from a forgotten past. It is a foundational idea of cosmic and moral order—a guiding light for navigating the deepest dilemmas of civilization. Today, we find ourselves amid cascading crises: ecological collapse, artificial general intelligence (AGI) disruption, and civilizational fragmentation. And yet, in this time of radical uncertainty, the ethical force of Rta remains alive, awaiting reinterpretation.
But relevance does not come from nostalgia. Rta must not be preserved—it must be recreated. To serve our planetary age, Rta must be reimagined in the light of modern theories of reality that incorporate evolutionary complexity, planetary systems thinking, and the unprecedented capacities of advanced AI.
1. Shared Heritage, Divergent Emphases
Rta is a shared civilizational root of the Indo-Iranic world. But while the Indo tradition leans toward an ethic of cosmic harmony and adaptation, the Iranic branch emphasizes thoughtful action and ethical intervention—an imperative to shape and improve the world.
This divergence holds profound meaning for today’s global civilization. Blind adaptation to ecological collapse or technological disruption—often endorsed by ecological fatalists or techno-determinists—is no virtue. Nor is the unanchored manipulation of nature defensible.
The Indo tradition reminds us of our place within a vast interdependent web; the Iranic tradition urges us to act, not drift. This dual insight is crucial: the future demands both cosmic humility and planetary responsibility.
2. From Metaphysics to Modern Ethics
At its core, Rta never split nature from morality. It was a unified principle of truth, rightness, and order. Yet modern science, in its pursuit of objectivity, often excised ethics as extraneous—leaving us with a powerful toolkit but no moral compass.
This division is no longer tenable. In an age of climate emergency, synthetic biology, and AGI, scientific knowledge devoid of ethical grounding is not just incomplete—it is dangerous.
It is time for science to reclaim moral authority—not from religious dogma, but through planetary foresight and participatory ethics. Here, Rta offers a model: a seamless integration of understanding what is with knowing what ought to be.
3. Contextual Ethics: Harmony and Intervention
Rta is not a rigid code—it is a dynamic method of discernment. It invites us to toggle between harmony and intervention, depending on context.
Consider COVID-19: Should we have “lived in harmony” with a virus that devastated millions of lives? Clearly not. The ethical course was resistance, coordination, and preservation of life. Rta called not for passive adaptation but for intelligent protection of human continuity.
Now take space exploration: does it make sense to send human bodies into hostile environments, or should we deploy AI-augmented probes and robotics? Rta advises humility and wisdom. Human exceptionalism must not override cosmic realism.
Conversely, take the opportunity to build a Planetary Grid—a civilization-scale solar energy system to harvest the sun’s power. This is not a violation of cosmic order—it is its fulfillment. It reflects the ethical maturation of a planetary species ready to co-create responsibly with nature.
4. The AGI Dilemma: Restraint or Acceleration?
AGI poses perhaps the thorniest ethical puzzle of our time. Should we accelerate AGI development to maintain global leadership and avoid falling behind authoritarian regimes? Or should we decelerate, fearing mass unemployment, the erosion of human agency, or even existential risk?
Rta does not issue commandments. It demands deep foresight, inclusive debate, and moral clarity.
Is mass automation that displaces millions of workers ethical? Perhaps not. But is failing to lead in AGI and ceding the future to opaque, coercive powers more unethical?
There are no easy answers. But Rta provides a method: pluralistic moral inquiry grounded in the unity of cosmic order and ethical responsibility. It refuses both relativism and dogma, offering a mature, evolving moral grammar for planetary life.
5. A Call for Planetary Foresight and Moral Leadership
Our crisis is not merely technological—it is civilizational. The stakes are no longer regional or national. We are all passengers on one planetary ship hurtling through an indifferent cosmos. Our future depends on whether we can develop a shared grammar of foresight—a new Rta.
This new Rta calls for:
- Scientists and technologists to engage not just in research, but in ethical reasoning. Integration of natural and ethical laws is key here; which is fundamental and rather trivial in some non-Western civilization.
- Political leaders to convene open, participatory forums on AGI, climate adaptation, and planetary infrastructure.
- Faith and cultural institutions must evolve from parochial dogmas toward planetary ethics grounded in evolutionary complexity.
Rta does not ask us to surrender to the tides of change. Nor does it invite hubris to dominate nature without consequence. It calls us to co-create with cosmic intelligence—to act boldly, ethically, and with foresight.
Let Rta be our guide—not as a relic, but as a living compass. Let it speak across traditions, across disciplines, across civilizations. For in Rta lies the wisdom to navigate our dangerous freedoms and our infinite possibilities. Let us reconstruct it—not in stone, but in vision.
* Victor V. Motti is the author of Planetary Foresight and Ethics
