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Complexity in this case is less of a measure and more of a foundational definition: There exists a such thing as "complexity" that requires a certain level of u
by helen___keller 6y ago
Complexity in this case is less of a measure and more of a foundational definition: There exists a such thing as "complexity" that requires a certain level of upkeep, and if that upkeep surpasses the value gained from the complexity than the society is prone to a sudden loss of complexity when some kind of stress is imposed on society. It's pretty straightforward but gives us very little predictions because it's so abstract.
- Retric 6y agoThe issue is complexity doesn’t have a uniform cost over time. As farming became more efficient complex societies could support more overhead. Egypt was such an ideal location for growing and transporting food 4,000 years ago, but limitations changed over time. So as you point out it’s not complexity that matters it’s a more complex and hard to quantify equation that includes complexity and several other terms. Further, societal collapse currently looks very different. Multiple countries experienced a collapse after a civil war, but they don’t fall in the same way Rome or even older civilizations did.