Reflections from the Second World Writers’ Congress in Moscow

With great joy, I participated on September 20–21 in the Second Congress of the World Organization of Writers (WOW), held in Moscow. I attended as a member of the WOW Board and as a representative of several literary and cultural organizations in Austria and Russia, of which I am proud to be a member.

During the congress, I spoke at a round table, presenting a paper entitled “The Image of the Future Man and the Man of the Future.” In my remarks, I analyzed the works of philosophers and poets who have contemplated humanity’s destiny, underscoring the alarming reality that our world is approaching a global catastrophe. The seriousness of this threat was highlighted by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who, at the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, urged world leaders to take collective action to prevent such a collapse.

As I emphasized in my talk, the root of this crisis lies in humanity itself—our relentless pursuit of material gain at the expense of spiritual values. Increasingly, individuals are described as “cyberhumans” or “cyborgs,” programmed solely for material objectives while neglecting the deeper, spiritual dimensions of life.

I believe that modern philosophers and writers have a vital role to play in reminding society of these spiritual foundations, drawing inspiration from the wisdom of ancient Eastern philosophers (from India, China, and beyond) as well as the visionary thought of Russian cosmists.

In my view, this theme deserves broader coverage and promotion in WOW’s publications. I sincerely hope it will be incorporated into the organization’s future work plans.