WHAT MUST REMAIN INVIOLABLY HUMAN

The Arlington Institute

Humanity is entering an age of extraordinary power. Governments, corporations, technologies, and intelligent systems can increasingly observe, predict, influence, and automate human behavior on a scale once unimaginable.

These capabilities can greatly benefit humanity. They can also enable unprecedented surveillance, manipulation, intrusion, and concentrated control.

We face a fundamental question:

As the systems around us become more powerful,
what must remain beyond their rightful control?

We answer:

The human being.

Human life, conscience, thought, bodily integrity, personal sovereignty, freedom of choice, privacy, legitimate property, and moral responsibility must remain protected.

We offer this Declaration not in opposition to progress, but to affirm that progress must remain in service to humanity.

THE HUMAN DECLARATION

A Declaration of Human Freedom and Responsibility

PRINCIPLES WE AFFIRM

LIFE. Every human life has inherent worth.

FREEDOM. Every individual has the right to think, speak, choose, create, associate, and direct his or her own life while respecting the same freedom in others.

TRUTH. Every human being has the right to seek, question, understand, and speak the truth.

EQUALITY. No individual is inherently more or less human than another.

OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ONE ANOTHER

Freedom carries responsibility. In exercising our own rights, we accept a duty to respect the equal rights of others.

We therefore commit ourselves to four simple responsibilities:

1. Do no harm to another human being.
2. Respect the rights and property of others.
3. Deal fairly and honestly.
4. Keep your word and take responsibility for your actions.

DECLARATION

We affirm that every human being possesses inherent worth, personal sovereignty, freedom, conscience, and the right to direct his or her own life.

No government, institution, technology, corporation, or other power should rightfully take from an individual what is fundamentally human.

Freedom is inseparable from responsibility.We claim these rights for ourselves only as we recognize them equally in others.

We embrace progress that serves humanity and reject power that diminishes human dignity, freedom, or agency.

To these principles and responsibilities, and to the protection of what must remain inviolably human, we freely join our names.