This is a discussion that I've encountered a lot lately -- it seems to boil down to: Is civilization different from nature? Is it doomed to be destructive, or

This is a discussion that I've encountered a lot lately -- it seems to boil down to: Is civilization different from nature? Is it doomed to be destructive, or can it create something new and better? Many people I've met lately are intellectual materialists, and they are pretty pessimistic about the future. I have to say though that I'm on the side of civilization. We've got problems, but I think we'll get our act together over the next few centuries.