Oddbean new post about login | logout As I see more and more dangerous laws being proposed and implemented in Europe and the US, I am more and more in favour of the total collapse of the Western world, in the hope that we can build something beautiful afterwards. Is that nihilism?
No, but it's really dangerous.
Dangerous in what way?
Looking at history, when an empire falls, it is a slow and terrible descent into really awful times. I think this is the stage we are currently in.
Do you know of any good books regarding the topic of falling empires?
Arnold Toynbee's works.
Wow. Never heard of this guy.
I still have to finish the abridged versions of his history of civilizations, but the parts that I read were fairly interesting. I think there's a lot to be learned from his analysis.
"When Money Dies"
The Sovereign Individual The Fourth Turning is Here These are the books I recommend on this topic. Neither are directly about "falling empires" per se, but both extensively discuss massive societal changes. Sovereign Individual compares transition of feudal Europe into industrial nation states to today's transition into the information age. Fourth Turning looks at history through the lens of generational cycles.
You're skipped over a vital aspect of conquest. The quicker an empire gains power, the faster it falls.
I hadn't considered that before. That's definitely something to noodle.
The Ultimate Business Cycle lol
You might be right since the fall of the US will be due to The Fed and money printing.
Same can be said of The Roman Empire, spending more than they produced. Though they had to literally shave off metal from coins. There were issues that were 2nd and 3rd order consequences of money debasement.
Western world is living in a delusion of abundance, waiting for the fog to clear. Assholes in areas of scarcity will attack those who have always known that abundance comes with production. There will be pockets of abundance, more free areas. They need to know how to defend themselves. Violence is not Evil, it is a tool just like any other. I live in an area where if total chaos comes from collapse, I will need to flee. Don't know where to go but I will need to do it.
I already have my plans. I'm hoping that it won't happen until I own my own land..
It would be cool to own some land and create my own microcosm of a town. Private school, Private hospital, Private Law Enforcement, Private Courts.
"Violence is not Evil, it is a tool just like any other." This is true. Perhaps, I'm speaking more anecdotally, but there are a few characteristics that I've noticed to be more frequent within the Gen Z generation. They seem to be a touch more scared of the potential application of brute force in comparison to previous generations and seem to be more vulnerable to the opinions of others. In short, this quote stands true. "Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times."
Although, the Roman Empire was very unique in this regard, due to the fact that their influence is still felt quite heavily even to this day. 🤔
Feels like we’re already there…
If that makes you a nihilist then it makes me one and I dont think I am one. Gotta destroy to rebuild. May work, may not, but we will never know until then and its a risk I am more than willing to. Better to die on your feet than live on your knees.