I thought of the fate of Descartes' famous formulation: man as 'master and proprietor of nature.' Having brought off miracles in science and technology, this 'master and proprietor' is suddenly realizing that he owns nothing and is master neither of nature {it is vanishing, little by little, from the planet}, nor of History {it has escaped him}, nor of himself {he is led by the irrational forces of his soul}. But if God is gone and man is no longer master, then who is master? The planet is moving through the void without any master. There it is, the unbearable lightness of being.
In this passage, Milan Kundera reflects on the concept of humanity as the 'master and proprietor of nature,' originally proposed by Descartes. He points out the irony that despite remarkable advancements in science and technology, humans are realizing their lack of true ownership over nature, history, and even their own selves. The idea is that as civilization progresses, it struggles with the increasing recognition of its limitations and fragility.
Kundera emphasizes a profound sense of loss and existential uncertainty, suggesting that with the absence of a divine authority or clear mastery, humanity finds itself adrift. The metaphor of the planet moving through the void signifies a world that lacks direction or control. This leads to a realization of the "unbearable lightness of being," highlighting the weightlessness and ambiguity of existence without clear purpose or mastery.
