Opinions Regarding the University Students of Humanity's Problems and Their Solutions

Abstract

Problem statement: There are many problems that humanity is facing today and has to solve. These problems can be gathered under several headings. Most important ones among these problems can be listed as follows: Threat of nuclear war; human being pushed into solitude and repugnancy; disturbance of natural balance; population growth; black holes swallowing our planet; exhaustion of underground and surface resources; unfair income distribution both internationally and within countries; and lack of affection. Purpose of Study: What is the most important problem in the world according to university students? What kind of ideas make university students find that problem as the most important one? Methods: The qualitative method used was soliciting the written opinion of university students anonymously. Findings and Results: University students regard lack of affection as the most important problem that humanity is facing today. They argue that this lack of affection may be the root cause of other problems and say when affection reigns; other problems can be solved more easily. Other problems that follow the most important one are as follows: Wars, disturbance of natural balance and pollution; others (ignorance; selfishness, lack of empathy, poor communication, mistrust, intolerance, degeneration in mind and heart, parental clashes, information pollution, distorted urbanization); human being pushed into solitude; exhaustion of natural resources; unfair income distribution; population growth and black holes swallowing the planet. Conclusions and Recommendations: On the basis of findings, one can say that university students are aware of problems that humanity is facing. In established industrial and information societies individuals are left alone. This may feed the feeling of solitude and the feeling, in turn, may lead to lack of affection. During focus group meetings university students addressed these issues and emphasized that lovelessness is the malady of our time. They added that no other problem can be solved without solving this one first.