An epic analysis of 5,000 years of civilisation argues that a global collapse is coming unless inequality is vanquished
I’d agree with that, inequality is just another toxic symptom of our current civilization, like pollution, climate change, environmental degredation etc.
We can’t put a date on Doomsday, but by looking at the 5,000 years of [civilisation], we can understand the trajectories we face today – and self-termination is most likely,” says Dr Luke Kemp at the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk at the University of Cambridge.
“I’m pessimistic about the future,” he says. “But I’m optimistic about people.”
I’d clarify my postion as, surely it’s obvious civilisation can’t last but humans will, what comes after ? Interesting qiestion but entirely irrelevant
Anyone interested in the historical context here should read Daniel Quinn’s Ishmael. He explained this in 1992.
This was a really good read, thank you for posting it. I too find it hard to hold out hope, but i’ll be fucked if I go out quietly. Valid messages all around
Interesting how long an article you can write without mentioning overshoot even once.
It’s not like it was never alluded to:
“Then as elites extract more wealth from the people and the land, they make societies more fragile, leading to infighting, corruption, immiseration of the masses, less healthy people, overexpansion, environmental degradation and poor decision making by a small oligarchy. The hollowed-out shell of a society is eventually cracked asunder by shocks such as disease, war or climate change.”
(bold added to highlight indirect mention of overshoot by other names)
The reason that overshoot isn’t really a focus in this article is because the author has recognized (correctly, IMO) that overshoot is just a symptom of a much deeper problem - large-scale domination by narcissistic/psychopathic individuals.
that overshoot is just a symptom of a much deeper problem - large-scale domination by narcissistic/psychopathic individuals.
definitely possible to get overshoot without psychopathic individuals
