Are we on the road to civilisation collapse? (2019)

“By 476, the empire’s reach was zero.”

I stopped reading right here. The Western Empire fell in 476 (for many reasons). The Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) lasted until 1453. Even that isn’t a perfect way of articulating it, given the continued influence of the Catholic Church had well into the 1500’s (Luther).

In some ways one could argue civilization has never ended, but paused in different areas of the world. Also, taking a myopic view on civilization focused on the western civilization ignores the inter-continental trade that existed around Africa, Asia and Europe, doesn’t seem fair to the history.

I know that’s a reductive argument, but I do think global civilization has been continually making progress, all be it with some slow downs and set backs along the way. Yes some empires went away, but we still read writings from Ancient Greece, so is it correct to say even that civilization ended?

Long way of saying, “no” but things might change, and it could be uncomfortable for a while.

I don't think there is any problem with inequality. Inequality may be increasing within individual countries, but it's decreasing worldwide because of decreasing inequality between countries.

Similarly, i can't see a problem with East/West divide. "Eastearn" civilisations are rising only as long as they adopt Western principles. It's not as much of a disadvantage of a Western civilisation, it's simply that it's losing it's exclusive position, because it WON: there is no alternative to market capitalism in today's world, no one even pretends there is.

There are alternatives to democracy, but success rate of democracy is a mixed bag in the West itself, and it may be simply an outdated form of government for the post-industrial world, and universal democracy where everyone votes was a short (<100 years) experiment anyway, so it's not a big deal if it ends. Democracy the way it was implemented in 200 years ago USA when 3% of people - actual stakeholders - could vote, would be the most sustainable form of government today, and it's more or less the way China is governed (where 6-7% of population are in the Party and can meaningfully vote).

It is mentioned on the detail link for the chart:

> Harappan Civilisation (Indus Valley Civilisation) [800]

But also missing is the Sumerian civilization, which I understand to have been over a thousand years. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumer

or, only the happiest and most optimistic people can continue studying existential risk day in day out.

Of course we are!

It's been obvious for years, at least to anyone in my circle. Even my boss has said as much. We can feel it in our bones. Things are getting worse, not better, and it's accelerating.

We did this to ourselves, with our own greed and indifference, and now it's time to reap our rewards. Even now, rich nations are hoarding vaccines for themselves.

We have learned nothing and we will learn nothing, until it is too late.