The allure of the new captivates us, urging us to move forward and leave the past behind as we align with fresh goals. Why do we mention this? Because it reflects the state of our world today. Even the Earth is set to gain a 'new moon' this fall. Yet, in a 'new' groundbreaking development, SpaceX, the world's richest man Elon Musk's venture to create a dent in the universe, is preparing to rescue two astronauts stranded on the International Space Station for nearly three months after Boeing, one of the two largest aerospace companies, failed to bring them back due to a faulty landing pod.

Are we romanticising the past? Certainly not. But this hysteria about human species progress and the notion that this is the best time to be human is a blatant lie. Objectively, what have we achieved compared to 50 years ago that we should be proud of? The last time we landed on the moon was in 1972. However, we have made progress in terms of hacking a pager and detonating it remotely coupled with torturing enemy combatant in an innovative manner for a piece of land.

On the flip side, our communication technology and ability to process vast amounts of data are advancing at breakneck pace. But we must ask ourselves: what tangible benefits have we gained from virtual meetings or algorithms that predict which aisle a pregnant woman will visit in a store, or which website a depressed person is likely to subscribe to?

In the developed world, mental health issues like anxiety, depression and addiction are on the rise, while in the underdeveloped world, many still struggle to meet basic needs. Globalisation, once celebrated, appears to have peaked, as the rise of nationalist leaders and growing xenophobia reflect a decline in global tolerance and the enlightened state of the species supposedly dominating the only known habitable planet.

Yet in one area, we have made undeniable strides: our ability to create a spectacle. From AI-powered tools that can pass medical exams to deep fake videos; from reality shows that feel more authentic than everyday life to the ubiquitous six-pack abs on TV and the internet; from preemptive wars and pandemics to a 'green revolution' in an era of scorching heat, prolonged monsoons and brutal winters, we now inhabit a world where megastars like Taylor Swift might soon decide a presidential election.

What's the point of celebrating human progress if it's only about creating more spectacle rather than building a solid foundation for humanity's future? If anyone feels even a hint of shame about this, the first question that may come to mind is: Who is responsible for this? Perhaps, we're all responsible, lost in the illusion of security we find each night, lulled by the idea of humanity's progress. Meanwhile, we've been drifting into a society of conspirators, romanticising the past while mistaking our new creations for progress when, in reality, they may be taking us backward.

We can now envision a future where private companies, rather than nations, spearhead bold visions and initiatives, including space travel. This inherently is not something to lament about, but where did these companies acquire their efficiency in innovation and management? From the very technologies of the past. Electric cars, for instance, were invented way before fossil-fuel-powered ones. Today, that same technology, coupled with brilliant branding, powers companies like Tesla and has created billionaires like Elon Musk. One such company, SpaceX-also owned by Musk-has recruited top talent from NASA, Boeing and Lockheed Martin, claiming to have pioneered new rockets and technologies that will take humans into space. This is not to say that electric cars are not a progress, but the technology used is certainly not new.

But if this is what we call 'progress'-disregarding the past while creating a spectacle of the new-perhaps it can be best likened to an Ayahuasca ceremony in Peru. People flock to these rituals, experience life-changing, convincing hallucinations, and emerge believing they've been enlightened.

Consider the drone technology, more than 100 years old, now used to wage wars and kill; AI, a 50-year-old concept, is being hailed as revolutionary while it strips jobs and dismantles industries. Even the space tourism ventures using technology from over five decades ago only contribute to space pollution. And yet, we are sold these recycled ideas as groundbreaking innovations. We sent tourists to space over 50 years ago, but now we're told it's something new. If this isn't deception, what is? Today, we are inundated with 'new' ideas and technologies that are, in fact, blatant rehashes of the past, disrupting the fabric of humanity rather than driving it forward.

The only way out of this crippling illusion is to find balance in all that we do-whether in love, hate, material possessions, superstitions, sensory pleasures, or even our understanding of progress. The all-or-nothing approach to life has wreaked havoc not only on the planet we call home but on the very spirit that makes us human. Instead of striving for distant galaxies thousands of light-years away, let us learn to satisfy our appetites, senses and souls by reaching for the moon we see each night.

In the Bhagavad Gita, there's a saying: 'Lies are like dry wood, and truth a simple spark; a spark of truth can burn away entire forests of lies.' We hope this article serves as that spark, igniting awareness of the worrisome state of human existence over the past 50 years.

The writers are education management consultants at Islington College based in Kathmandu