Menyoal Homo Deus
Menyoal Homo Deus
EDUCATION
M. Jiva Agung W
Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia
mochammad.jiva@student.upi.edu
ABSTRAK
Salah satu tujuan dari pendidikan formal adalah untuk memungkinkan
orang untuk hidup atau bekerja sesuai dengan kebutuhan zaman mereka.
Pembelajaran saat ini (khususnya Pendidikan Sejarah) di sekolah masih
berfokus pada menghafal dan jauh dari produktif apalagi progresif. Yuval Noah
Harari, seorang profesor di Departemen Sejarah Universitas Ibrani Yerusalem,
yang buku triloginya menggambarkan peta dari tantangan, masalah, serta
rekomendasi untuk pendidikan di abad ke-21 sehingga orang-orang abad ini
dapat menjalani kehidupan mereka dengan baik. Penelitian ini adalah tinjauan
kritis terhadap pemikiran Yuval Noah Harari tentang tantangan pendidikan
abad ke-21. Tiga karya Harari yang monumental diperiksa dan dibandingkan
secara kritis dengan karya-karya lain yang relevan. Makalah ini menyimpulkan
bahwa ada tiga cara untuk menyelesaikan masalah pendidikan di abad ke-21.
Pertama, dengan menghubungkan tiga periode; kedua, mendorong
pemerintah untuk membuat kebijakan positif pada tiga isu paling penting
(perang nuklir, krisis lingkungan, dan gangguan informasi dan teknologi); dan
ketiga, mengundang dunia untuk berpartisipasi dalam memecahkan masalah
global.
Kata kunci: Abad 21, Pendidikan, Tantangan
ABSTRACT
One of the aims of formal education is to enable people to live or to work
accordingly to the needs of their era. Unfortunately, instead of being used as a
tool of living, nowadays learning (particularly History Education) at schools
still focuses on memorizing and is far from productive let alone progressive.
Yuval Noah Harari, a professor in the History Department of the Hebrew
University of Jerusalem, whose trilogy books describe maps out challenges,
problems, as well as recommendations for education in the 21st Century so that
people of the Century could live their lives properly. This research is a critical
review of Yuval Noah Harari’s thoughts about the challenges of 21st Century
education. Three monumental Harari’s works (Sapiens, Homo Deus, 21st
Lessons) were examined and critically compared with other relevant works.
This paper concludes that there are three ways to resolve the problem of
education in the 21st Century. First, by relating three periods (past, present,
future); secondly, encouraging governments to make positive policies on the
three most important issues and thirdly, inviting the world to participate in
solving global problems.
Keywords: The 21st Century, Education, Challenges
160
161
attention. However, her study does in the academic world, there aren’t
not detail.5 many people who have discussed it
None of the studies seriously. Existing studies just cite
mentioned above discuss education the contents of the book or review
for 21st Century from a historical the books and throughout my
perspective, like Yuval Noah search, there are no journals that
Harari’s perspective. Even though discuss his thoughts specifically
Harari is a historian it does not regarding the issue of education. So
mean that he has disconnected that it can be said that this article is
from the field of education. Harari’s very important to be used as a
life is in the circle of the education preliminary study and needs to be
system. Equipped with mastery developed more deeply.6
over human history along with the The purpose of this article is
twists and turns of their actions, to provide an overview of the
Harari finally ventured to discuss challenges of education in the 21st
21st Century human problems. Century based on the views of
Even further, he also tried to Yuval Noah Harari. These
explore the possibilities of future challenges are discussed and then
long-term human life, such as those several solutions are proposed.
reviewed in his book entitled Homo Because of Harari’s analysis based
Deus. on the global and macro
On the other hand, because perspectives, the interaction and
Harari’s name is still relatively new interconnection between fields of
5 Deliowska, Aleksandra Tluściak. Vol. 34, No. 1, 2018, pp. 1-34 and Allan
“About the School and the Student- McCay’s “The Value of Consciousness and
Teacher Relationship in the 21st Century: Free Will in a Technological Dystopia”
Some Perspectives and Challenges: Journal of Evolution & Technology, Vol 28
Problems of Education in the 21stCentury, Issue 1 (Sept, 2018), pp. 18-30. There is
Vol. 76, No. 4, 2018, pp. 422-424. also a Bibliography Review written by
6 I found the study of Harari’s Tamas Pesuth. “Money in Harari’s
thoughts both from the Mardohar B.B. Historical Philosophical and Technological
Simanjuntak’s article. “Disposisi Religio- Approach” Vintage (Public Finance
Strategis Skemata Algoritma Mark C. Quarterly), London, 2018, pp. 275-280.
Taylor dan Yuval Noah Harari” Melintas,
7 www.ynharari.com/about
(Official website), accessed on June 10,
2019
21 Lessons for the 21st Century weeks in the top ten. This book
(London: Jonathan Cape, 2018) that even was recommended by many
had been widely sold throughout prominent figures like Mark
the world.8 Zuckerberg, Barack Obama, and Bill
Sapiens, the book that Gates. In 2018 he is announced by
divides the phase of human history producer Ridley Scott and Oscar-
into three waves (cognitive, winning Asif Kapadia that it will be
agricultural, and scientific we adapted into a Hollywood
revolutions), has become an movie. Recently it won the 2019
international bestseller. By 2018, it ‘Academic Book of the Year’ prize as
had been sold over 11.5 Million part of the UK’s Academic Book
copies and was translated into over Trade Awards.9
50 languages, including Indonesia. In contrast to Sapiens, which
Besides it was a New York Times focuses on discussing human
top 10 bestsellers and held history, although in the last chapter
positions #1-#3 on the Sunday it touched on the future
Times’ bestseller list for 96 possibilities, in Homo Deus Harari
consecutive weeks, with over 150 wanted to illustrate the predictive
8 Ibid. See also Yuval Noah Harari. 18: 3 (pp. 251-266, 2007); Military
(2017). Sapiens (trans, Yanto Musthofa). Memoirs: A Historical Overview of the
Jakarta: Alvabeta, p. 513. He also wrote Genre from the Middle Ages to the Late
some articles such as The Military Role of Modern Era in War in History 14: 3 (pp.
the Frankish Turcopoles –a Reassessment, 289-309, 2007); Knowledge, Power and
Mediterranean Historical Review 12 (1) the Medieval Soldier, 1096-1550 in In
(pp. 77-116, June 1997); Inter-Frontal Laudem Hierosolymitani, Studies in
Cooperation in the Fourteenth-Century Crusades and Medieval Culture in Honour of
Western European Invasion Campaigns in Benjamin Z. Kedar (Ashgate, 2007);
War in History 6 (4) (pp. 379-395, Combat Flow: Military, Political, and
September 1999); Eyewitnessing in Ethical Dimensions of Subjective Well-
Accounts of the First Crusade, The Gesta Being in War in Review of General
Francorum and Other Contemporary Psychology 12: 3 (September 2008);
Narratives, Crusades 3 (pp. 77-99, August Armchair Coffee and Authority: Eye-
2004); Martial Illusions, War and Witnesses and Flesh-witnesses Speak
Disillusionment in Twentieth and about War, 1100-2000 in The Journal of
Renaissance Military Memoirs in Journal of Military History 74: 1 (gennaio, pp. 53-78,
Military History 69 (1) (pp. 43-72, January 2010).
2005); The Concept of Decisive Battles in 9 Op cit.
steps that humans will take in the focuses on the biggest problems
future, such as the search for that are being faced by humans
happiness, the desire to today. Within a few months, 2
immortality, and divinity.10 That is Million copies of the book had been
why the book is titled Homo Deus sold worldwide.13
because humans today are making Harari twice won the
efforts to immortality through, at Polonsky for “Creativity and
least, three ways: biological Originality”, in 2009 and 2011.
engineering (biotech), cyborg Then, in 2011 he won the Society
engineering, and non-organic for Military History’s Moncado
engineering.11 Only within two Award for outstanding articles in
years, 5.5 Million copies of the book military history and the next year
had been sold worldwide, and the he was elected to the Young Israeli
same as Sapiens it was translated Academy of Sciences.
into over 50 languages. In 2017 it 21st Century Education
won Handelsblatt’s German Modern society recognizes
Economic Book Award for ‘the most that investment in education will
thoughtful and influential have a long-term positive impact,
economic book of the year’, and contribute to the common good,
recently in 2019, it was recognized increase national prosperity and
as the ‘Wise Book of the Year’ by support stable family,
Krakow’s Jagiellonian University.12 environmental and community
We will not get conditions. To face challenges and
comprehensive information if we survive, young people must equip
only read the two books above. themselves with a variety of
Therefore, 21 Lessons are suitable information, knowledge, and
as a compliment because this book adequate skills. At the same time,
decisions. Likewise, to solve global skills will soon be left behind and
problems.16 isolated. Besides, in this
Critical thinking has strong globalization era which is also
relationships with the other three characterized by an abundance of
skills. Creativity is difficult to build information, someone who does
without critical thinking. Besides not have communication skills will
that, it is also closely related to easily be consumed by false
communication, especially when information and provoked.
someone receives information. Moreover, in a world of service-
When he activates his critical based work that involves
thinking, he is asked to examine, interaction with many people, the
analyze, interpret, and evaluate the skill of communicating ideas—both
information so that the possibility verbally and in writing—listening,
of obtaining invalid information is empathy, effective communication
very small. Then, more urgently are very important to master. This
compared to the previous era, 21st skill is very closely related to
century society is being faced with collaboration. When working
problems that are bigger, together in a team, in working on a
complicated, and complex so that it project, for example, it is important
is impossible to resolve them to activate effective communication
independently. Therefore, critical skills to avoid misperception.18
thinking needs to be combined with Collaboration
collaboration and collaboration A question came out. Is there a
with others from various pure work made by one person?
perspectives.17 Impossible. The road that we
Communication passed, the car we drive, the house
Today someone who does we live in, the books we read, to the
not have good communication clothes we wear, and so on, cannot
19 See “Why Human Run the Account of TED (Published on July 24,
World|Yuval Noah Harari” at YouTube 2015). Accessed on June 15, 2019.
an example, when all companies Ushul Fiqh: “preserve the old well
made black earplugs, for the first and take the new best.”21
time in history, the iPod produced Harari’s View on The Challenges
them in white. When everyone of 21st Century Education
thought that the earplug cable was His views on the challenges
a nuisance the iPod decided to give of 21st Century human education
it a white color instead to let it are original and unique due to his
know that what was inside his understanding of history studies.
pocket was an iPod. Starting from His latest monumental work the 21
that day, people like to use Lessons for the 21st Century is also
earplugs.20 enriched by historical perspective,
Richard Watson on his including in the issues of education.
Occasional Paper Series also He always equips his theory with
revealed that human creativity concrete examples which make the
along with the ability of empathy reader and the listener easy to
and making moral decisions would absorb the information.
be at the top of any list of uniquely For Harari the main
human characteristics. challenge of the 21st century
Interestingly for Watson creativity education is that for the first time in
in the world of education can also history no human being will ever
be considered by considering old know the situation and condition of
ideas that have been forgotten or the world in the future due to the
perhaps have not been explored rapid changes mediated by
more deeply. This view is like in technology, such as genetic, brain,
harmony with the legal maxim of and mind engineering, including
“JuruBicaraJKT: Sedikit Lebih Beda, Lebih Paper Series On Education in the 21st
Baik Daripada Sedikit Lebih Baik” at Century. Education: Future Frontiers.
YouTube Channel of Pandji Pragiwaksono (2017), p. 8.
Lessons, p.281. See also “Yuval Harari: ON Pikiran Libertarian: Manifesto untuk
How to Set Expectation: ON Purpose Kebebasan. (trans, Nanang Sunandar dkk).
Podcast Ep.16” at YouTube Account of Jay Tangerang Selatan: Indeks, pp. 327-328.
Shatty. (Published on June 7, 2019). 24 Harari, 21 Lessons, p. 36
Ibid, p. 286.
25 27 Ibid, p. 283
26Ibid, p. 288. See also Boaz,
David. (2018). Alam Pikiran Libertarian, p.
328.
Middle Path of Moderation in Islam. Oxford: Ideologi Politik: Sebuah Pengantar (trans,
Oxford University Press, pp. 137-141; Yudi Santoso). Yogyakarta: Pustaka
Harari. Sapiens, p. 417. See also Agung, Jiva. Pelajar, Chapter 9, p. 463.
https://www.qureta.com/post/krisis-
41 Ibid. See also Kamali, The Middle Teacher Relationship in the 21st Century:
Path of Moderation, p. 139. Some Perspectives and Challenges:
42 Deliowska, Aleksandra Tluściak. Problems of Education in the 21stCentury,
“About the School and the Student- Vol. 76, No. 4, 2018, pp. 422.
Instead of giving money for free like something while the other group
UBI, it is better for them to does not, then the result will be
subsidize education, health care, nothing. Like the ancient villagers
free transportation, and so on.46 in the Nile River Valley who turned
Harari’s anxiety has been their allegiance from the local clan
responded to by Ian Pearson. to the kingdom so that they could
According to him, when physical hold back the dangerous currents
and intellectual work are delegated of the river, so are today’s
to AI, the more "soft" parts of our conditions where we are facing
work, especially interpersonal nuclear threats and the ecological
work, will grow. Because of the crisis.
economic focus shifting from Gross I interpret that Harari has a
Domestic Product to a measure of spirit of futurity, a concern about
the quality of life, jobs such as the future that implies that actions
nursing, sales, marketing, in the present must be assessed
entertainment, training, based on its impact on the survival
counseling, etc. will be needed. of future generations. However,
Therefore, According to him, the when we try to discuss the
education system has to move from ecological crisis we need to be
a “knowledge economy” to ready to dialect with various
interpersonal skills.47 ecological schools starting from
The last solution offered is modernist ecology, the ecology of
through global cooperation. The socialism, eco-anarchism, until eco-
problem is faced by 21st Century feminism.48
society is no longer national or The idea offered by Harari
sectoral, but global. Therefore, was also criticized by conventional
when one group fights for moral thinkers who argued that it
Harari, 21 Lesson, p. 41
46 48 Heywood, Andrew. (2016).
47Pearson, Ian. (2019). You Ideologi Politik: Sebuah Pengantar (trans,
Tomorrow (trans, Dria Soetomo). Jakarta: Yudi Santoso). Yogyakarta: Pustaka
Renebook, p. 208. Pelajar, Chapter 9, p. 438.
52 See Harari, 21 Lessons, pp. 283- the 21st Century: Some Perspectives
284. and Challenges: Problems of
53Deliowska, Aleksandra Education in the 21stCentury, Vol. 76,
Tluściak. “About the School and the No. 4, 2018, pp. 423.
Student-Teacher Relationship in 54 Harari, 21 Lessons, pp. 288.