Mene tekel fares

The work with the symbolic title Mene, tekel, fares—derived from the biblical story of the Babylonian King Belshazzar and the mysterious writing on the wall, which signifies "measured, weighed, and divided"—represents a mature essayistic and literary achievement by Ivan Supek from the very end of the 20th century. In this book, the author reflects upon the dramatic history of the 20th century—marked by two world wars, the threat of the Cold War, the atomic bomb, and the collapse of Yugoslavia—while warning of the dangers that technocracy, political fanaticism, and moral decline pose to humanity. Supek consistently advocates for the ideals of peace, tolerance, democratic socialism, and freedom of the spirit. Through a synthesis of philosophical thought, historical analysis, and dramatic intensity, the book serves as a serious warning to contemporary civilization—a kind of moral alarm calling for responsibility, ethical conduct in science and politics, and the preservation of humanity before it is too late.