Tesla's Vision of Humanity as a Bee Colony and Beyond: A Comprehensive Analysis

Tesla's Vision of a Bee-Like Human Civilization

Nikola Tesla, the renowned inventor and electrical engineer, developed a fascinating vision of humanity's future that compared human society to the structure of a bee colony. Tesla boldly proclaimed that "The life of the bee will be the life of our race". In an interview with John B. Kennedy that will mark its centennial in 2026, Tesla expressed his belief that a new social order was approaching where females would be superior and technology would revolutionize communication and power transmission. Tesla argued that the transformation of human civilization would mirror the highly organized and cooperative structure seen in bee colonies, representing a profound shift in how humans would interact and organize their societies.

The Queen as the Center of the Bee Civilization

Tesla saw profound significance in the organization of bee colonies, particularly in how they center around the queen. The bee colony represents one of the most intelligently coordinated systems of non-rational animal life, characterized by an all-governing instinct for immortality that elevates motherhood to a divine status. At the center of bee life is the queen, who dominates not through hereditary privilege but because she functions as the womb of the insect race. This organizational structure fascinated Tesla, who saw parallels with how human society might evolve if certain trends continued.

Women's Emergence as Superior Beings

Tesla regarded the emergence of women as one of the most profound signs of humanity's future development. He observed that a new attitude toward sex discrimination had gradually emerged through centuries, receiving particular stimulus around the time of World War I. Tesla believed this would culminate in a new sex order with females as superior beings. He argued that women's equality and eventual superiority would not come from physical imitation of men but through the awakening of female intellect. Tesla noted that centuries of social subservience had resulted in the hereditary suspension of mental qualities in women, qualities he believed women possessed equally to men.

Female Intellectual Advancement and Maternal Instinct

According to Tesla, women's mental capacities would expand dramatically as generations proceeded, leading eventually to women being better educated than men. He predicted that as women acquired new fields of endeavor and gradually usurped leadership, these changes would ultimately diminish feminine sensibilities and maternal instincts, potentially making marriage and motherhood abhorrent concepts. This transformation would push human civilization closer to what Tesla called "the perfect civilization of the bee". The convergence toward a bee-like social structure would, in Tesla's view, be driven by the dominant instinct for the perpetuation of the race, making motherhood central to society's organization.

The Mathematical Connection Between Bees and the Golden Ratio

The mathematical principles governing bee colonies reveal fascinating connections to fundamental mathematical concepts. Honeybees demonstrate the Fibonacci sequence in their family structure. When dividing the number of female bees by the number of male bees in a colony, one arrives at 1.618, which is the golden ratio. This mathematical sequence applies to any honeybee hive at any given time, making honeybee colonies a common example used to explain both the Fibonacci Sequence and the Golden Ratio. This mathematical harmony in bee colonies suggests a natural order that Tesla may have found appealing as a model for human society.

Nietzsche's Superman: An Alternative Response to Nihilism

Friedrich Nietzsche approached the challenges of human existence differently than Tesla, developing the concept of the Übermensch or Superman as a response to nihilism. Nihilism, in Nietzsche's view, was a broad cultural phenomenon in which people lose the values and ideals guiding their lives. While Tesla envisioned a collective solution through a bee-like society, Nietzsche focused on individual transcendence through the Superman concept. For Nietzsche, the Superman represented a person who had transcended conventional morality and created their own values in a world devoid of inherent meaning.

Evolution as an Ongoing Process

Both Tesla and Nietzsche shared the perspective that human evolution was an ongoing process rather than a completed one. Nietzsche explicitly argued in "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" that evolution is not finished and cannot be assumed to be finished yet. He compared humans' relationship to apes with what future evolved humans might think of current humanity: "Supposedly, human beings evolved from apes, but what are apes compared to us?". Nietzsche further elaborated that "Our way is upward, from the species across to the super-species". This evolutionary perspective formed a key foundation for Nietzsche's concept of the Superman, representing the next stage in human development.

How Bee Colonies Operate in Nature

A honey bee colony represents a marvel of natural organization and cooperation. It typically consists of three distinct types of bees: a single queen, hundreds of male drones, and 20,000 to 80,000 female worker bees. Each type serves specific functions that maintain the colony's health and productivity. The colony's population fluctuates seasonally, potentially reaching up to 80,000 individuals during active periods when workers forage for food, store honey, and build combs, but decreasing significantly during colder seasons. This organizational structure ensures the colony's survival through changing environmental conditions.

The Queen Bee's Central Role

The queen bee serves as the reproductive center of the hive. There is normally only one adult, mated queen in each hive. Her primary function is reproduction, as she is usually the mother of most, if not all, bees in the beehive. During peak production, queens may lay up to 1,500 eggs per day and could potentially produce up to 250,000 eggs annually and more than a million in her lifetime. The queen is easily distinguished by her longer body, shorter wings, and larger thorax compared to workers or drones. Beyond egg-laying, the queen produces pheromones that serve as a social "glue," unifying the colony and providing individual identity.

Workers and Drones: The Supporting Cast

Worker bees form the majority of the colony and handle all essential tasks for survival. They clean and polish cells, feed the brood, care for the queen, remove debris, handle incoming nectar, build beeswax combs, guard the entrance, and condition the hive. As they age, workers transition to foraging duties, collecting nectar, pollen, water, and propolis. In contrast, drones (male bees) serve just one purpose: to fertilize new queens. They mate outdoors, usually in midair, and die soon after mating. During times of scarcity, drones may be ejected from the hive to conserve resources.

Bees' Vital Role in Food Production

Bees play a crucial role in global food security through pollination. Scientists estimate that approximately 75% of the world's flowering plants and about 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators to reproduce. Honey bees alone pollinate 80 percent of all flowering plants, including more than 130 types of fruits and vegetables. It's estimated that bees are responsible for approximately one-third of the food that humans consume. The economic value of bee pollination is immense, as they contribute to the production of a wide range of crops including fruits, vegetables, oilseeds, and legumes.

The Balance Between Bees and Nature

Bees maintain a delicate balance with their natural environment. They serve as environmental indicators, with their health reflecting the overall condition of surrounding ecosystems. Research has shown that, given the option, wild bees prefer smaller cavities than those used by conventional beekeepers, suggesting that modern beekeeping practices might not always align with bees' natural preferences. Bees' foraging activities support biodiversity by pollinating not just crops but also wild plants, which in turn provide habitat and food for wildlife. This interconnectedness demonstrates how bees function as a keystone species within wider ecosystems.

Comparing the Queen Bee to Human Monarchs

The role of the queen bee differs significantly from that of human monarchs, despite the shared terminology. In human societies, monarchs traditionally derive their authority through hereditary right and exercise various degrees of political power. The queen bee, however, does not "reign" like a human monarch. As the "mother" of the matriarchal hive, she functions primarily as a reproductive center rather than a decision-maker. Interestingly, bee hives were misunderstood for over 2,000 years, with queen bees incorrectly referred to as "king bees" until 1609, when entomologist Charles Butler published "The Feminine Monarchy," correctly identifying the female-led nature of bee societies.

Modern Monarchies: Constitutional Limitations

In most contemporary human societies, monarchs serve largely ceremonial functions with limited political authority. Constitutional monarchies limit the monarch's powers and manage them through other government authorities. While monarchs may technically retain certain powers—such as declaring war and peace, vetoing laws, or dissolving parliament—they rarely exercise these powers independently. Instead, they function as symbols of national unity, representatives of the state abroad, and sources of continuity amid changing political landscapes. During crises, monarchs often promote values of mutual support, empathy, and sacrifice.

Jesus as a Rebel Against Authority

The common perception of Jesus as primarily a savior contrasts with biblical accounts that reveal his rebellious stance against established authorities. Jesus often resisted the power structures of his day, challenging and confronting the religious leaders rather than submitting to them. One clear example of this resistance was his cleansing of the temple, where he rebelled forcefully against the religious status quo. Instead of passively accepting the established order, Jesus deliberately formed a whip and overturned tables to display his displeasure with the commercialization of sacred spaces. This action demonstrated a purposeful and defiant resistance to corruption within religious institutions.

Christ's Confrontation with Roman Authority

Jesus's interactions with Roman authorities further illustrate his rebellious nature. During his confrontation with Pilate before crucifixion, Jesus initially resisted by refusing to answer questions. When he did speak, he made it clear that Pilate's authority was not inherent but derived from God, stating, "You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above". This response challenged the Roman power structure by implying its secondary nature to divine authority. Jesus was thus a "radical nonconformist who challenged authority at every turn" rather than the meek figure often portrayed in modern religious contexts.

The Term "Queen" in LGBTQIA+ Culture

The word "Queen" has undergone a significant transformation within LGBTQIA+ culture. Originally used as a slur to mock or belittle individuals in the queer community, it has been reclaimed as a symbol of empowerment, self-acceptance, and solidarity. In gay slang, the term "queen" refers to a flamboyant or effeminate gay man and can be either pejorative or celebrated as a form of self-identification. The reclamation of this term has effectively stripped it of its negative power and transformed it into a positive identifier. This process of linguistic reclamation illustrates how marginalized communities can transform formerly derogatory language into expressions of pride and identity.

Historical Development of "Queen" in LGBTQIA+ Culture

The historical evolution of the term "queen" in LGBTQIA+ culture dates back to the late 1880s when William Dorsey Swann, a man who had escaped slavery, began organizing private gatherings in Washington, D.C. known as "drags". Swann is considered the country's earliest known drag queen and has been celebrated as the "first queer American hero". These early gatherings faced persecution, with attendees often arrested for wearing "elegant female attire". Over time, drag culture has gained increasing visibility through television shows like "RuPaul's Drag Race," introducing the empowering aspects of drag and the term "queen" to a global audience. Today, the term encompasses a range of identities within the community—including drag queens, gym queens, and leather queens—each with their own unique subculture.

Ukraine's Rich Beekeeping Tradition

Ukraine possesses a rich history of beekeeping that extends back to medieval times, when bees were encouraged to colonize 'wild hives' fashioned from hollowed-out trees. This historical connection to apiculture has made Ukraine Europe's most prolific honey producer and one of the largest in the world, with exports worth almost $140 million in 2020. The country has approximately 400,000 beekeepers caring for 3.6 million colonies, and elements of its wild hive heritage continue to survive in wilderness regions like Polesia, often called 'Europe's Amazon'. This extensive beekeeping tradition has established Ukraine as a leading figure in the global honey industry.

Ukraine's Agricultural Significance and Honey Production

Ukraine holds a critical position in the global agricultural market, serving as a major honey producer. It ranks as the largest European producer of honey and the second largest in the world. According to the European Commission, more than 30% of the EU's honey is imported from Ukraine. In 2020, Ukraine managed to export 81,000 tonnes of honey, followed by 58,000 tonnes in 2021. The country's honey production is expected to reach up to 140,000 tonnes in 2022 despite the difficulties caused by war, though a significant portion will remain for domestic needs. Ukraine's central regions are particularly renowned for their distinctive sunflower honey, which has a vivid yellow color and offers bright, sunny flavor notes of fall apples, summer rains, and sunflower resin.

Factors Contributing to Ukraine's Honey Abundance

Several factors contribute to Ukraine's remarkable honey production. The country's eastern and southern territories contain rich melliferous plants that support diverse bee populations. The primary honey-producing regions include Mykolaiv, Kherson, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, and the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which were home to approximately one-third of Ukraine's beekeepers before the current conflict. The landscape features sprawling sunflower fields, which produce a distinctive sunflower honey. Ukraine's diverse flora and favorable climate create ideal conditions for apiaries, resulting in various honey varieties with unique characteristics. This natural bounty has positioned Ukraine as a significant contributor to global honey markets and made it a valued source of this natural sweetener.

The Existential Question: To Be or Not To Be

Shakespeare's famous soliloquy "To be, or not to be" from Hamlet raises profound existential questions that can be compared to humanity's relationship with bees. In this speech, Hamlet contemplates death and suicide, weighing the pain and unfairness of life against an unknown alternative that might be worse. The opening phrase, among the most widely quoted lines in modern English literature, encapsulates humanity's fundamental struggle with existence. When considered in relation to bees' critical role in our food systems, this existential question takes on added significance. The simplest answer to why bees are important is that they pollinate food crops, with one out of every three bites we consume relying on pollination.

The Interdependence of Bees and Human Survival

The interdependence between bees and human survival creates a profound existential connection. Bees help produce one-third of our food supply and provide half of the world's fibers, oils, and other raw materials. They contribute to medicines, provide food for wildlife, and help prevent soil erosion. If bees were to disappear, it would drastically reduce the quantity and quality of available food options. The wind alone could pollinate crops like corn and wheat, but the majority of nutritious foods are bee-assisted, including almonds, apples, and cherries. This reality forces us to confront our own mortality and survival in ways reminiscent of Hamlet's contemplation.

"I Am That I Am": The Divine Declaration of Existence

The biblical phrase "I Am that I Am" represents God's self-identification to Moses in Exodus, offering a fascinating philosophical counterpoint to Hamlet's existential questioning. This Hebrew phrase, "אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה," has been variously translated as "I am who I am," "I will become what I choose to become," or "I am what I am". While Hamlet questions whether to continue existing in the face of life's suffering, this divine declaration affirms absolute existence as fundamental and necessary. This contrast highlights two different approaches to the question of being—one questioning the value of continued existence in the face of suffering (Hamlet), and the other asserting existence as primary and definitive (God to Moses).

Moses and the Promised Land: A Story of Hope

The biblical narrative of Moses leading the Israelites to the Promised Land offers a powerful metaphor for hope and future abundance. According to the Bible, God promised a specific region of land to His chosen people as part of their heritage. This Promised Land was described as "a land flowing with milk and honey," signifying its fertility and agricultural bounty. The soil was rich for agriculture and shepherding, with mountains providing security and an arid climate providing perfect conditions for livestock to thrive. This promise represented not just physical sustenance but also spiritual fulfillment and divine providence. Despite leading the Israelites through years of wandering in the wilderness, Moses himself was only permitted to view the Promised Land from Mount Nebo before his death.

Ukraine's Agricultural Crisis and Future Potential

Ukraine's current agricultural situation bears striking parallels to the biblical narrative of struggle before reaching the Promised Land. The ongoing war has significantly disrupted agricultural production, threatening both local and global food security. Before the conflict, Ukraine was a leading producer and exporter of key agricultural commodities, supplying numerous food-stressed countries in the Middle East and East Africa. The war has particularly affected Ukraine's eastern territories, where many beekeepers have been forced to abandon their apiaries. Despite these challenges, Ukrainian beekeepers remain optimistic, sharing their honey, knowledge, and spirit. They believe that, like the Promised Land narrative, there will be restoration and renewal: "We shall start anew, on the ashes of our past lives; with a will and dedication hardened in the tumultuous weeks and months of battle".

Conclusion: Interconnected Existence

The convergence of Tesla's vision of humanity as a bee colony, Nietzsche's concept of the Superman, and the critical role of bees in our food supply reveals profound insights about our interconnected existence.Tesla envisioned a highly organized society where individuals function harmoniously for collective benefit, while Nietzsche proposed individual transcendence as a response to nihilism. Both recognized evolution as an ongoing process, suggesting that humanity has further potential for development. The operation of bee colonies demonstrates nature's remarkable capacity for organization, with each member fulfilling specific roles essential for collective survival. This interconnectedness extends to our food systems, where bees' pollination activities directly impact human survival.

The existential questions raised by Shakespeare's "to be or not to be" and the biblical declaration "I am that I am" reflect our fundamental grappling with existence itself. Just as Hamlet contemplates the value of life amid suffering, humanity must consider its relationship with nature and the consequences of failing to protect essential species like bees. The promise of abundance represented by the biblical Promised Land finds echoes in Ukraine's agricultural potential, currently threatened by conflict but holding the promise of future renewal. By understanding these interconnections—between humans and nature, between past wisdom and present challenges—we gain a more comprehensive perspective on our existence and responsibilities toward the intricate web of life that sustains us.