Is Every Civilization Doomed to Fail? - Gregory Aldrete

[TygrBright]

1. Thanks for posting, Warpy. One thing he doesn't touch on, though...

Is that while humans don't learn MUCH from history, we do in fact learn. The basis behind the old saw about history not repeating, but rhyming.

While a lot of the time this manifests as insanity (trying the same thing over and over hoping for a different result), the 'uncontrollable' aspects - technology, climate, history itself - guarantee observably different phenomena sufficient to make significant alterations in the patterns.

What this means about where we go next is unpredictable, but it can as easily be positive-unpredictable as negative-unpredictable. Of course, even that is an overly simplified characterization as the experiences and needs and choices of humans differ (both individually and in cultures) to ensure that what is negative for some will be positive for others.

Yet another reason to hate living in interesting times...

wearily,
Bright