How long will modern civilization persist?

Enrico32 · September 19th, 2019, 08:56 PM

Key features of modernity:
-competitive individualism, hence limited inheritance rights
-equality under law, hence the absence of slavery
-emphasis on large population (as opposed to celibacy and eugenics)
-technical progress
-elimination of animalistic desires

These features has been in place for some 1,000 years already.
How much longer will they continue to be?

If you say this civilization is so good that it will continue forever, what do you think of pre-civilization cultures of deep antiquity?
Would you dare to dismiss all the strange and awful features of deep antiquity (eg. written by Herodotus, Xenophon, Plutarch, Ibn Khaldun) as literary nonsense? Or what about strange and awful features supposedly possible in deep future (eg. written by Orwell, Huxley, Atwood), would you dare to dismiss them as simple hyperbole?

**SanteeFats** · September 19th, 2019, 09:46 PM

It will last until it is gone.

**tamsmith** · September 19th, 2019, 09:48 PM

When I read today that kids were being allowed to change or decide on their sex.
NOT LONG.

**cginok** · September 20th, 2019, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enrico32

Key features of modernity:
-competitive individualism, hence limited inheritance rights
-equality under law, hence the absence of slavery
-emphasis on large population (as opposed to celibacy and eugenics)
-technical progress
-elimination of animalistic desires

These features has been in place for some 1,000 years already.
How much longer will they continue to be?

If you say this civilization is so good that it will continue forever, what do you think of pre-civilization cultures of deep antiquity?
Would you dare to dismiss all the strange and awful features of deep antiquity (eg. written by Herodotus, Xenophon, Plutarch, Ibn Khaldun) as literary nonsense? Or what about strange and awful features supposedly possible in deep future (eg. written by Orwell, Huxley, Atwood), would you dare to dismiss them as simple hyperbole?

Animalistic desires have been eliminated? Since when?

**Adam West** · September 20th, 2019, 02:27 AM

It will last longer than a lot of people think. Somehow we evolve.

Estreeter · September 20th, 2019, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tamsmith

When I read today that kids were being allowed to change or decide on their sex.
NOT LONG.

I read kids here are so worked up and depressed over global warming

some are getting therapy and some

have resorted to drug use

**tamsmith** · September 20th, 2019, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Estreeter

I read kids here are so worked up and depressed over global warming

some are getting therapy and some

have resorted to drug use

Yes I can sympathise with them. I have been waiting for Global Warming to start in my area for the last 30 years. It totally depresses me. Alcohol is the drug I have resorted to.

sdsioux · September 20th, 2019, 07:56 PM

Global warming is for real, just a matter of time. I tried alcohol and it doesn't work

**tamsmith** · September 20th, 2019, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdsioux

Global warming is for real, just a matter of time. I tried alcohol and it doesn't work

Does for me.

**Paddy Bog** · September 20th, 2019, 08:26 PM

Modern civilization changes about every 20 minutes or so. New ideas, new technology, new attitudes, new discoveries mean that "modern" is only what we think it is at any given moment. Yes, things have gotten better over the course of human history with the spread of the nebulous quality called "freedom." We also have problems with the same ancient practices of greed, prejudice, and domination of others. Sure, global warming, big business power, terrorism, drug addiction, and any other bad thing you can think of will change civilization. However, Adam West is correct; we evolve and adapt in order to survive.

September 19th, 2019, 08:56 PM	#1
Enrico32 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 334 Thanks: 346 Thanked 1,264 Times in 331 Posts	How long will modern civilization persist? Key features of modernity: -competitive individualism, hence limited inheritance rights -equality under law, hence the absence of slavery -emphasis on large population (as opposed to celibacy and eugenics) -technical progress -elimination of animalistic desires These features has been in place for some 1,000 years already. How much longer will they continue to be? If you say this civilization is so good that it will continue forever, what do you think of pre-civilization cultures of deep antiquity? Would you dare to dismiss all the strange and awful features of deep antiquity (eg. written by Herodotus, Xenophon, Plutarch, Ibn Khaldun) as literary nonsense? Or what about strange and awful features supposedly possible in deep future (eg. written by Orwell, Huxley, Atwood), would you dare to dismiss them as simple hyperbole? Last edited by Enrico32; September 19th, 2019 at 09:05 PM..

September 20th, 2019, 08:26 PM	#10
Paddy Bog Vintage Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Beyond the Pale Posts: 961 Thanks: 44,589 Thanked 56,929 Times in 1,015 Posts	Modern civilization changes about every 20 minutes or so. New ideas, new technology, new attitudes, new discoveries mean that "modern" is only what we think it is at any given moment. Yes, things have gotten better over the course of human history with the spread of the nebulous quality called "freedom." We also have problems with the same ancient practices of greed, prejudice, and domination of others. Sure, global warming, big business power, terrorism, drug addiction, and any other bad thing you can think of will change civilization. However, Adam West is correct; we evolve and adapt in order to survive. Last edited by Paddy Bog; September 21st, 2019 at 10:56 PM..

September 19th, 2019, 09:46 PM	#2
SanteeFats Super Moderator Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Santee, Ca Posts: 60,942 Thanks: 282,146 Thanked 815,711 Times in 60,990 Posts	It will last until it is gone.

September 19th, 2019, 09:48 PM	#3
tamsmith Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Coming close to the Slippery Slope. Posts: 7,800 Thanks: 77,915 Thanked 280,434 Times in 9,078 Posts	When I read today that kids were being allowed to change or decide on their sex. NOT LONG.

September 20th, 2019, 02:27 AM	#5
Adam West Vintage Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Indianapolis - The Racing Capitol of the World Posts: 650 Thanks: 8,517 Thanked 6,205 Times in 635 Posts	It will last longer than a lot of people think. Somehow we evolve.

September 20th, 2019, 07:56 PM	#8
sdsioux Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Upper Midwest Posts: 649 Thanks: 838 Thanked 4,393 Times in 614 Posts	Global warming is for real, just a matter of time. I tried alcohol and it doesn't work