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Civilization is far more resilient than most people today seem to believe. History shows that utter devastation can tear through a civilization, killing as muc

by rmah 5y ago

Civilization is far more resilient than most people today seem to believe. History shows that utter devastation can tear through a civilization, killing as much as one in three people, but civilization will rebound within a generation or three. If an apocalypse happens, it will certainly be horrific for those who experience it, but humanity will not just survive, it will rebuild quite rapidly. You may not live to see the new renaissance, but will happen.

imiric 5y ago
I would like to see things as positively as you, but until the 20th century humankind had never before faced the dangers of nuclear destruction. We just don't know the extent of the damage power hungry rulers are willing to unleash on the world when they are cornered and feel they have nothing to lose, while controlling more destructive power than ever before in history. Your figure of 1/3 deaths, or up to 3 generations to rebound might be too optimistic. We just don't know. Given how reliant we are on existing supply chains, their complete breakdown could send us back into the stone age. We've certainly seen how even a relatively mild pandemic can disrupt our lives for years. The effects of something far worse would be difficult to predict. Us measly tax payers can only hope for the best.
qiskit 5y ago
> History shows that utter devastation can tear through a civilization, killing as much as one in three people, but civilization will rebound within a generation or three. That news to the ancient egyptian civilization, mesopotamian civilization, incan civilization, aztec civilization, etc.
- nitrogen 5y ago
  And yet here we all are, and there the future they will all be.
musha68k 5y ago
Are you sure you know enough about knock-on effects of nuclear war? I can recommend the writings of William J. Perry [1] and for blunt emotional effect the BBC movie "Threads" [2]. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_J._Perry https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_J._Perry [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threads_(1984_film) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threads_(1984_film)

by rmah 5y ago

imiric 5y ago

I would like to see things as positively as you, but until the 20th century humankind had never before faced the dangers of nuclear destruction. We just don't know the extent of the damage power hungry rulers are willing to unleash on the world when they are cornered and feel they have nothing to lose, while controlling more destructive power than ever before in history. Your figure of 1/3 deaths, or up to 3 generations to rebound might be too optimistic. We just don't know. Given how reliant we are on existing supply chains, their complete breakdown could send us back into the stone age. We've certainly seen how even a relatively mild pandemic can disrupt our lives for years. The effects of something far worse would be difficult to predict. Us measly tax payers can only hope for the best.

qiskit 5y ago

> History shows that utter devastation can tear through a civilization, killing as much as one in three people, but civilization will rebound within a generation or three. That news to the ancient egyptian civilization, mesopotamian civilization, incan civilization, aztec civilization, etc.

nitrogen 5y ago
And yet here we all are, and there the future they will all be.

musha68k 5y ago

Are you sure you know enough about knock-on effects of nuclear war? I can recommend the writings of William J. Perry [1] and for blunt emotional effect the BBC movie "Threads" [2]. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_J._Perry https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_J._Perry [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threads_(1984_film) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threads_(1984_film)