When a world-renowned historian, a Nobel Peace Prize-winning journalist, and a former politician come together to talk about the state of the world and its future, what unfolds? Yuval Noah Harari, an Israeli historian specializing in medieval and military history, is famous for his sweeping books on human history like Sapiens, Homo Deus, and his latest, Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI. Maria Ressa, a joint Nobel Peace Prize laureate, is a Filipino-American journalist who helped start the news site Rappler. Rory Stewart is a British scholar, former Conservative MP, author, and co-host of The Rest Is Politics podcast. Their discussion touched on the growth of AI, the challenges facing democracy, and even the unlikely idea of a Trump-Putin wedding. But they started with a question central to their work: how can we live a good life in a world that feels more divided and fragile?
Harari pointed out that people have debated this for millennia. Modern liberalism and democracy’s key insight was to agree to disagree—acknowledging that people have different ideas of a good life but can still coexist under shared basic rules. The problem, he said, is that those who believe they have the one true answer often try to force it on others. Many ideologies include the belief that part of living well is making everyone else follow the same path. Sadly, it often seems easier to impose these ideals on others than to live by them ourselves. He gave the example of the medieval Crusades, where people who struggled to live by Christian values like modesty and compassion instead traveled far to kill others in the name of those very principles. Today, he sees similar patterns playing out.
Stewart reflected that at the core of this is liberalism, an idea that gained strength in the 19th century and took on new life after World War II. We inherited a system built on a rules-based international order, agreements between nations, and democracy centered on tolerance and human rights—protecting minorities from the majority. For a time, especially up to the mid-2000s, it seemed this was humanity’s natural path. But then things started to unravel. Now, instead of democracy, we see authoritarian populism; instead of free trade, protectionism and tariffs; instead of a rules-based order, a world where the strong dominate the weak. Social media and AI are amplifying these trends.
Ressa added that the pressing issue today is whether impunity will prevail, as the rules-based order is clearly failing in both the physical and virtual worlds. How can we live well when big tech uses surveillance for profit, manipulating us to make more money? Now, technology targets us individually, down to the cellular level in every democracy. She noted that all five major world religions teach that the essential struggle for a good life is internal—the battle between your better self and your worst self. As the saying goes, “Do unto others…”Treat others as you wish to be treated—it’s a simple principle. But how do we hold onto these values when the very ways we connect are being corrupted?
YNH: What’s new today is that technology now allows us to hack human beings and manipulate our inner struggles in ways that were impossible in the Middle Ages or even the 20th century. Big corporations and others with this power can decode and shape human desires and thoughts like never before. Liberal democracy, as it was designed in the 18th and 19th centuries, doesn’t know how to handle this.
RS: There’s also the risk that technology could overshadow us. Civilization has long been built on great figures and heroes—people who push the boundaries of what it means to be human. We pride ourselves on being an extraordinary species, capable of achievements in science, poetry, and drama that no other species can match. But with artificial general intelligence, we face something that is literally superhuman. If it can effortlessly write a better poem or create a better play than I can, then our own significance is diminished.
MR: It would be great if the technology driving this change were completely accurate, but it’s not. We’ve grown up trusting the integrity of information, so we’re easily fooled—when we see something in writing, we assume it’s true. The way AI has been introduced into society is often detached from facts. Yuval points out in his book that information isn’t just about facts; it’s about the stories we tell. But facts are what anchor our shared reality.
Here’s a question for you all: Do you think people are fundamentally good or evil? I know I sound a bit religious here, but it matters. The breakdown in our public information ecosystem and our ability to elect illiberal leaders democratically stems partly from muting humanity’s goodness. I’ve reported on the worst of humanity—war zones where people kill each other—but I’ve also seen incredible generosity in the aftermath of natural disasters. We wouldn’t have survived the six-year presidency of Rodrigo Duterte without people who gave not only of themselves but also financially to Rappler. That’s what’s at stake.
YNH: One key insight is that goodness isn’t closely tied to intelligence. AI is the most important technology of our time, but we’ve forgotten that intelligence doesn’t guarantee goodness or wisdom. Throughout history, there’s no clear link between intelligence and compassion, or even a clear view of reality. Humans are the most intelligent species on Earth, yet we’re also the most deluded—believing things no chimpanzee, elephant, or rat ever would. Now we’re creating a superintelligence, and there’s every reason to think it could be super deluded too.
RS: Yuval is rare because he can envision where we might be in 200 years. But let’s consider the next 20. We often view the future from a Silicon Valley perspective, imagining a Star Trek-like world with Elon Musk heading to Mars. Yet for perhaps half of humanity, hundreds of millions will live on less than $2 a day, and billions on under $5 a day.
Conflict is also evolving. We see this in Gaza and, to some extent, in Ukraine.Wealthy, technologically advanced nations can cause immense harm to their neighbors while facing minimal risk themselves. At the same time, a global arms race is gaining momentum. In Europe, for example, defense spending is rising to 5% of GDP. This will drain hundreds of billions of euros annually from our healthcare, education, and welfare systems—precisely when our economies are stagnant and our populations are aging. Over the next 10 to 20 years, as AI advances, much of the world may feel like a shabbier, poorer version of today. Median incomes are likely to stagnate, and conflict could increase.
Maria Ressa:
I agree with Rory, but I’m even more pessimistic. I don’t think it will take 20 years. In the Philippines, we face an average of 20 typhoons each year. We’re watching islands disappear, yet the West is still debating whether climate change is real.
I believe journalism is on the verge of collapse within six months to a year. The internet is deteriorating daily, with no safeguards in place. News organizations are forced to bear the costs while our content is exploited. It’s a predatory online environment, and that has spilled over into the real world.
YNH:
If I had to describe the emotional tone of my work over the years, I’d say I’ve been in the business of spreading anxiety—about AI, climate change, and other issues. Now, we need to shift focus to rebuilding trust. When anxiety is overwhelming and trust is absent, nothing gets done. The key is to restore faith in human institutions—in the media, government, and elsewhere. The big question is, how do we achieve that?
Rory Stewart:
Rebuilding trust means restoring those human institutions. As a former politician, I found government to be far worse than I ever imagined. Liz Truss, my boss and colleague who became UK prime minister, saw her role as mainly about Instagram and campaigning. She spent little time on policy and dismissed those concerned about the real-world impact of her decisions. The whole system has become a game.
Maria Ressa:
How long can we pretend elections are fair as the world falls apart? The international rules-based system worked because we had a powerful anchor: the pursuit of the greater good. We expected leaders to restrain their greed, and journalists held them accountable. Now, with the US seemingly focused only on itself, what does that mean? Do we abandon the values embedded in international organizations? If the most powerful act only in their own interest, does it become every person for themselves?
YNH:
There’s a strange resurgence of monarchist ideas. Today’s rising leaders are different from 20th-century dictators. In the US, the “No Kings” movement against Donald Trump isn’t a coincidence—he’s reviving something medieval. One striking moment last year was Trump’s meeting with President Zelenskyy. It revealed that Trump doesn’t view politics as interactions between states or peoples, but as dealings between individuals, monarchs, and dynasties.When people pointed out that Putin had broken past agreements, Trump responded, “Well, he broke an agreement with Biden, he broke an agreement with Obama, not with me.” This implies that agreements aren’t between nations but between individuals, and if he makes a deal with Putin, he’ll ensure it’s honored—but only as long as he remains president. Once someone else takes over, the agreement ends. This brings back the idea of politics as a dynastic matter between families. It might sound a bit far-fetched, but not entirely, to imagine a resolution to the Ukraine war where Barron Trump marries Putin’s granddaughter and they receive Crimea and Donbas as their own territory.
Let me add one more point about this monarchical notion: in the 20th century, dictators were bound by ideologies that limited their actions. For example, a communist dictator had to advance communist ideals and couldn’t simply act on personal whims. With modern leaders like Trump, there’s no such ideology. Figures such as Trump or Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel enjoy remarkable freedom to act as they please.
One striking aspect of our time is the loss of an ethical language for dealing with leaders. Essentially, what is Donald Trump? He is shameless. It would be hard for thinkers like Aristotle, Cicero, Renaissance political theorists, or even the framers of the American Constitution to conceive of such shamelessness—such disregard for constitutions, minorities, truth, and the open flaunting of immorality. It’s also difficult to grasp how we’ve reached a point where we’re almost entertained by the spectacle and have lost our capacity to be shocked by the daily actions that would have once deeply disturbed us.
When Zelenskyy visited the White House, it was alarming how news reports merely repeated President Trump’s lies without challenge. Instead, they could have used a “truth sandwich” approach: stating the fact that Russia invaded Ukraine, then reporting Trump’s false claim, and reiterating the truth. Journalism must evolve; we can no longer hide behind neutral reporting of “he said, she said.” We need to call out lies because they are contrary to the facts. Our reporting must adapt.
Technologically, we cannot accept surveillance for profit or continue to be manipulated, as it brings out the worst in us. At Rappler, we started developing a chat app two years ago with the goal of creating a global information ecosystem rooted in our communities. This is how we progress: by embracing technology, criticizing its flaws, learning from history, and recognizing that, despite its issues, democracy remains the best system we have. It might all collapse soon, but we keep fighting.
More people need to understand that we must take on the difficult tasks ourselves. There’s a common assumption that reality will naturally correct falsehoods and illogical policies, but history doesn’t work that way. If we want truth and reality to prevail, each of us must contribute effort—pick one cause, focus on it, and trust that others will do their part. This approach helps us avoid falling into despair.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about navigating a good life during challenging times inspired by a discussion with thinkers like Yuval Noah Harari Rory Stewart and Maria Ressa
Core Concepts Definitions
Q1 What does navigating a good life even mean especially when things are tough
It means finding purpose meaning and a sense of wellbeing even when facing uncertainty fear or societal problems Its not about avoiding hardship but learning how to move through it with resilience and integrity
Q2 Why is this topic so relevant right now
Were living in an age of rapid technological change political polarization and global crises These challenges can make us feel powerless and anxious making the quest for a good life more difficult and more urgent
Q3 Whats the difference between being happy and having a good life
Happiness is often a temporary feeling A good life is deeper its about living according to your values contributing to something larger than yourself and maintaining inner stability even on bad days
Insights from the Speakers
Q4 What does Yuval Noah Harari say about finding truth in an age of misinformation
Harari emphasizes that our ability to solve big problems depends on our shared agreement on basic facts He suggests we must actively cultivate our critical thinking skills and be skeptical of information that simply confirms our biases as misinformation is a major obstacle to a functional society and a good life
Q5 How does Rory Stewarts experience in politics inform his view on practical action
Having worked in complex realworld situations Stewart argues that grand ideologies often fail He champions small practical local actions A good life comes from engaging directly with your community and making tangible contributions rather than just getting lost in abstract online debates
Q6 What is Maria Ressas advice on dealing with fear and online harassment
As a journalist who faces constant attacks Ressas key advice is to build a strong support network and to never stop speaking the truth She shows that courage isnt the absence of fear but the determination to act according to your values despite it Protecting your mental space is crucial
Common Problems Challenges
Q7 I feel overwhelmed and powerless How can I make a difference
This is a common feeling
