Human beings exist in relationships. Human nature desires and seeks union with others in society, thus leading human beings to pursue inner communion and exchanges with others. Presently, however, we are facing an increasing number of personal and social pathologies, and deepening divisions among generations, genders, classes and cultures. With the advent of the 21st century, we are witnessing an acceleration of hyper- personalization, and the disconnection of relationships and the isolation of individuals have worsened. In particular, during the pandemic, face-to-face meetings, contacts and movements have been restricted, exacerbating the disconnect and isolation of people all over the world. In the meanwhile, various forms of hatred and intolerance have spread globally.

   Our time calls for an establishment of a renewed culture of relationships based on individual autonomy, inclusive of humans, non-humans and nature. Above all, this era calls for communication and solidarity, co- existence and co-prosperity, as well as empathy and unity. In order to co-exist with the ‘Other,’ we need to communicate and acknowledge our differences. Also, ‘empathy built through communication’ enables bonding and unity with others by putting oneself in another's place. If empathy is a virtue that can restore humanity and promote human co-existence and harmony, then cultivating empathy is an important task for humanity. What solutions can the humanities offer to develop empathy through communication?

   The humanities should play an important role in taking steps toward a united human community, overcoming hatred, hostility, global conflicts and crises. At a fundamental level, we need to think about the role of the humanities in fostering communication, co-existence and empathy. More specifically, we can think about how the humanities can contribute to the formulation of policies related to social integration in order to eliminate racism and all other forms of discrimination. It is also time to reflect on the specific role that the humanities can play in global citizenship education for integration and solidarity.

   What role should the humanities play in solving social problems and promoting a new praxis? This is the question that we would like to address. We hope that the role of the humanities enabling communication, co- existence and empathy will be expanded and deepened.

   The humanities should fundamentally analyze the problems of disconnection, hatred and conflict that the mankind faces after the pandemic, and seek solutions to move toward solidarity through communication. In order to overcome hatred and hostility against others, racism at the global level, and discrimination by micro- power operating at various levels, we can consider the humanities' approach to restoring otherness and the role of the humanities in implementing global citizenship education based on concrete policies. If the problem of disconnection and conflict can be understood as a phenomenon of drawing boundaries among regions, classes, generations, genders and disciplines then, it may be possible to seek, once again, trans-boundary humanities to break down these barriers. With the rapid development of AI, the tools of humanistic reflection and thought, speech and writing, are shifting from the realm of humans to the realm of technology. It may be time to fundamentally reflect on whether or not it is still possible for humans to communicate and connect through speech and writing and what it means to change the world through humanistic imagination. An interdisciplinary approach would be welcome, not only in terms of the various disciplines within the humanities, but also in terms of active communication with other disciplines outside the humanities.

   We live in a time when we need to ask again how we should relate to others. Others include everything that is not myself. Other people, animals, plants, nature, machines and the universe are all ‘others.’ COVID-19 has given rise to new ways of relating to each other, whether in person or virtually, and we now have to consider more than just bilateral relationships. When the vegetables and plants that we consume or grow are linked to climate change, the relationship between humans and plants is extended to the level of the natural ecosystem. The introduction of pets into the family, on the one hand and the mass production and mass slaughter of animals for food, on the other, require deep ethical reflection on the relationship between humans and animals. The relationship between humans and machines must be fundamentally redefined if machines such as AI and robots are to be humanized or artificially companionable. We need a new paradigm for the relationship between humans and non-human others. We can co-exist if we save each other. The paradigm of co-prosperity and co- existence is the alternative we are looking for. We seek a way of co-existence and co-prosperity in the humanities in terms of the relationship among individuals, individuals and communities, humans and viruses, humans and animals, humans and plants, humans and nature and humans and machines.

   Empathy for others is urgently called for now more than ever, to overcome the lack of communication, discrimination and exclusion, ostracism and hatred that pervade our society. We should be able to feel the joy of being together through empathy, while acknowledging our differences. Emotional communion with others and the recognition of similarity are important foundations for building harmonious relationships. Empathy is an innate human ability, but it can also be developed with some effort. It is "play and the art" that serve as an opportunity to empathize with each other and act as a catalyst transcending conflicts between ideologies, religions, races and classes. Imagination, which is the foundation of play and art, enables humans to have a free and open mind to embrace others beyond their own selfish desires and attachments. Imagination leads to art, and through art, we can deeply empathize with others and the world. Play and art are a beautiful way of life that, in a free state, unconditionally unites humans and brings them into harmony with each other. Empathy, imagination, play and art will provide a foundation for the thinking that allows for harmonious relationships with others. Play and art, as expressions of the imagination, will enable communication and empathy between humans and provide opportunities to reflect on the meaning and role of relationships.