In times of upheaval—whether from microscopic viruses or galactic ambitions—the question of how we respond ethically becomes paramount. One ancient yet enduring principle that helps navigate these crossroads is Rta, the Indo-Iranic concept of cosmic and moral order. Yet Rta is not a monolithic code; it is a dynamic compass, one that calls for discernment, flexibility, and responsiveness to context. It can inspire resistance or humility, activism or restraint—depending on what is required to preserve harmony and dignity.
Let us begin with a clear example from recent history: the COVID-19 pandemic. Some voices, often cloaked in a distorted sense of ecological purity, argued for "living in harmony" with the virus—as though accepting mass death and societal breakdown was somehow aligned with nature. But such a view betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of Rta. Rta does not demand passive acceptance of all that occurs in nature. On the contrary, when nature’s unfolding becomes destructive to the integrity of life, Rta calls for resistance. To allow the virus to spread unimpeded is to betray our duty to protect human life, health, and civilization.
In this sense, ethical action—rooted in the deeper logic of Rta—means resisting the virus. Science, public policy, and collective responsibility become instruments of moral order. They are tools by which we counterbalance the disharmony introduced by the pandemic. Here, Rta emerges as an activist cosmology: one where humans do not simply submit to what is, but rise to uphold what ought to be. It is a worldview that understands human agency not as domination but as responsibility—a moral duty to protect and preserve life.
Now shift the scene from the biological to the cosmic. Consider the ambitions of space agencies like NASA, with their aspirations for human colonization of the Moon, Mars, and beyond. At first glance, such ventures seem noble—extending the human story across the stars. But under closer ethical scrutiny, they raise deep questions. The vast financial costs, extreme risks, and inhospitable conditions of space suggest that such efforts may not align with Rta. Here, Rta may be calling not for action, but for restraint.
Rather than pushing the fragile human body into hostile environments, Rta might instead guide us toward a more harmonious path: sending autonomous, AI-enabled systems to explore and build. These non-biological agents can extend our presence without violating the delicate balance between aspiration and humility. In this vision, Rta becomes an ecological cosmology—one that emphasizes resonance with cosmic reality rather than conquest over it. The future is not abandoned, but recalibrated. Technological progress continues, but in alignment with limits rather than in defiance of them.
These contrasting examples—the pandemic and the space program—highlight the fluid power of Rta. It is not an absolutist doctrine. Rather, it is a moral orientation that shifts based on context, inviting us to evaluate when to resist and when to yield, when to act and when to defer. This nuance becomes even clearer when we examine the broader cultural spectrum of Rta’s interpretation.
In South Asian worldviews, Rta is often aligned with the acceptance of limits and the wisdom of surrender. It teaches us to discern when our desires clash with the deeper rhythms of the cosmos. This orientation favors humility, even in imagining the posthuman future. It suggests that we might not be destined to dominate the stars, but to find more integrated, less anthropocentric ways of relating to the universe.
In contrast, West Asian traditions, especially those influenced by Promethean lineages, often view Rta as a call to transform, even to defy. Here, the drive is to reshape nature, overcome death, and engineer the next evolutionary leap—transhumans, cyborgs, and space-faring humans. This Promethean vision sees the cosmos as a challenge to be met, not a rhythm to be joined.
These divergent views are not opposites in conflict, but expressions along a continuum. A wise framing of Rta attempts to hold both perspectives in productive tension. Rta is neither total surrender nor total domination. It is a compass—one that demands context-specific discernment, ethical creativity, and humility before the complexity of life.
Ultimately, to invoke Rta today is to affirm that we are not mere spectators of the universe, nor its unchallenged rulers. We are ethical participants in its unfolding. Whether resisting a deadly virus or reimagining space exploration, we are called to act—not based on abstract ideals or blind instincts, but through thoughtful alignment with the ever-evolving order of life. That is the enduring gift of Rta: a guide for futures that are not only possible, but also just.
