Is it our responsibility to be useful to the universe? Some people find it disempowering to think humans have any responsibility to be useful in their societies, much less the universe.

We've definitely learned a lot more about the universe and it's easier for people to survive comfortably now. Because our lower basic needs like food, safety, health, etc. are easier to satisfy than before, we are more able to focus on greater executive function, giving way to scientific progress, art, philosophy, creating meaningful lives, culture, social justice and any concept of human rights, the ability for individuals to have choices, justice-- many of these are existential luxuries (I wouldn't call human rights a luxury). In this way, I believe humankind has advanced, esp. considering that our primary motivation is self-preservation and promotion of the species.

I agree humans have gotten off track though (acted in our worst interest). While plants and animals occupy important roles in the ecosystem without depleting resources or degrading their environments and each other, humans have opted for unsustainable systems. I don't believe humans or technological advancement is separate from nature-- we are a part of it and so are all the maladaptive tendencies we have (destroying the environment in favor of profit for instance).

I feel like this time in history is just coincidentally where a natural disaster clashes with our system and highlights the cracks in it (this is esp. my perspective because I'm in the U.S watching our healthcare system and lack of adequate welfare destroy lives). In cynically inclined to think the Trump administration and Biden won't learn from this. But the people will and maybe this is the catalyst for a sociopolitical shift to a more forgiving, compassionate, collectivistic culture (fine, call my a socialist). There is a lot of talk about all the more equitable ways society could be restructured to better handle crises like this (and to eliminate poverty and suffering more in general). When I'm feeling more idealistic and less soul crushed, I like to think we might be on the cusp of returning to a modernized version of our paleolithic ancestor's more collectivistic lifestyles in which the interdependence of humanity on each other and our environment is realized and communities upheld by making sure everyone in the group eats, everyone has an opportunity to contribute and everyone is integrated and belongs.