Civilizations in Collapse: Past, Present, and Future

Exploring historical collapses and their implications for today's society, the chapter discusses factors contributing to the fall of civilizations like inequality, complexity, and external shocks. It also evaluates the impact of catastrophes on societal values and warns about the dangers of assuming a smooth recovery after a collapse, especially in the context of accessing powerful technologies. The chapter debates the potential for war to transform values in society, finding examples of both positive and negative outcomes, while considering the current resilience of civilization to catastrophic events alongside emerging concerns like dangerous technologies and interconnected global risks.