Member-only story
The End Is Nigh — Why Collapse Is Inevitable
Part 2: Infinite Growth In A Finite Environment
The end of the world as we know it is a scary thought indeed. At first I was curious. The rise and fall of empires has always been a fascinating topic to me. But the more I read the more I realized that it’s not the end of the American empire, or the European hegemony, or any single country, that we’re talking about. It’s the collapse of modern civilization.
In part 1, What is collapse?, I defined collapse as a drastic and persistent reduction in societal complexity, population level, technological capacity, and overall quality of life.
But is collapse inevitable? What are the forces operating behind the curtains?
In this series, I explore the collapse of modern civilization.
- What is collapse?
- Why collapse is inevitable [you are here]
- When will society collapse?
- How society will collapse
- Can collapse be avoided?
- What to do in the face of collapse?
- Summary
- Appendix: Bonus content and links
“…And on the pedestal, these words appear:
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.”
Ozymandias— P.B. Shelley
It’s an undeniable fact that even the mightiest empires turns to dust with only a faint memory remaining in the ruins of once grand palaces. It would be folly to believe we are the exception.
But no civilization before us has split the atom, landed on the moon, and done “all the other things” as J.F.K. put it. Perhaps we might be the exception? Perhaps we can get to the next level?
After all, there’s been no shortage of end times through history. All of them invariably come and go with little fanfare. However, unlike before, this time the scientists are…
