sustainable+civilisation

End of civilisations

There are few words which are used more loosely than the word "Civilization." What does it mean? It means a society based upon the opinion of civilians. It means that violence, the rule of warriors and despotic chiefs, the conditions of camps and warfare, of riot and tyranny, give place to parliaments where laws are made, and independent courts of justice in which over long periods those laws are maintained. That is Civilization—and in its soul grow continually freedom, comfort and culture. When Civilization reigns in any country, a wider and less harassed life is afforded to the masses of the people.— WINSTON CHURCHILL, Blood, Sweat & Tears

A sufficient and sure method of civilization is the influence of good women.— EMERSON

Civilization, indeed, may be defined as a constructive criticism of nature, and Huxley even called it a conspiracy against nature.— H. L. MENCKEN

The success of a civilization is measured not just in its aesthetic achievements but also, and surely more importantly, in the duration and quality of life of its citizens.

A civilization is the single largest unit of human organization, higher though more amorphous than even an empire. Civilizations are partly a practical response by human populations to their environments – the challenges of feeding, watering, sheltering and defending themselves – but they are also cultural in character; often, though not always, religious; often, though not always, communities of language.

They are few, but not far between. Carroll Quigley counted two dozen in the last ten millennia. In the pre-modern world, Adda Bozeman saw just five: the West, India, China, Byzantium and Islam. Matthew Melko made the total twelve, seven of which have vanished (Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Cretan, Classical, Byzantine, Middle American, Andean) and five of which still remain (Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Islamic, Western). Shmuel Eisenstadt counted six by adding Jewish civilization to the club. The interaction of these few civilizations with one another, as much as with their own environments, has been among the most important drivers of historical change. The striking thing about these interactions is that authentic civilizations seem to remain true unto themselves for very long periods, despite outside influences. As Fernand Braudel put it: ‘Civilization is in fact the longest story of all … A civilization … can persist through a series of economies or societies.’

...the British model of widely distributed private property rights and democracy worked better than the Spanish model of concentrated wealth and authoritarianism.

— NIALL FURGUSON