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Civilization: it depends on who you ask.
A camel driver will have a different definition from a jet pilot.
CIVILIZATION - An advanced state of intellectual, cultural, and material development in human society, marked by progress in the arts and sciences, the extensive use of record-keeping, including writing, and the appearance of complex political and social institutions.
Civilization grows from the education and socialization of a people. Humans are highly trainable mammals and any particular populations social engineering and education will determine its capabilities, innovativeness, versatility as well its handicaps.
The preservation of civilization simply lies in the same things that build civilization... education and socialization.
Cooperation in attacking others for our own benefit?
No
Indoctrination and propaganda to manipulate the masses?
Is this the Third Reich?
Compulsory charity and expropriation of property for the benefit of another?
This sounds like usury, defined as legal theft.
No
Prodigious production of surplus usable goods and services?
Absolutely, food in particular as the current world population growth cannot sustain itself and vast areas are becoming non-agricultural due to climate change.
2. Cooperation in attacking others for our own benefit?
No
3. Indoctrination and propaganda to manipulate the masses?
Is this the Third Reich?
4. Compulsory charity and expropriation of property for the benefit of another?
This sounds like usury, defined as legal theft.
No
5. Prodigious production of surplus usable goods and services?
Absolutely, food in particular as the current world population growth cannot sustain itself and vast areas are becoming non-agricultural due to climate change.
6. Voluntary charity?
Of course.
1. Agreed. Governments are instituted among men to secure Creator endowed rights from enemies foreign and domestic.
2. Agreed. Perverting governments into predators is bad.
3. No answer given. However, America does have the world's greatest propaganda ministry.
4. Agreed. However, compulsory charity and expropriation of property is SOCIALISM / COLLECTIVISM, not usury (the abomination).
5. Agreed. BUT are you implying ANTHROPOGENIC climate change? Are you ignoring suburban sprawl and the consequences of widespread proliferation of automobiles?
6. Agreed. Voluntary charity is a blessing. Compulsory charity is a curse.
The preservation of civilization simply lies in the same things that build civilization... education and socialization.
EDUCATION is implicit in the definition of civilization. Intellectual development, record keeping and writing cannot exist without education.
Is socialization necessary?
Depends on the definition.
SOCIALIZE : 1. To place under government or group ownership or control: socialized medical care.
2. To cause to accept or behave in accordance with social norms or expectations.
I do not think socialization is a requirement for civilization.
I prefer the endowed right of the individual to absolutely own himself, his labor, the fruits of his labor, that which he acquires by his harmless labors, including land. That excludes collective / group ownership (i.e., socialism).
And as long as one does not trespass upon the person, liberty or property of another, his compliance with social norms or expectations is not necessary, nor punishable by law.
1. Agreed. Governments are instituted among men to secure Creator endowed rights from enemies foreign and domestic.
2. Agreed. Perverting governments into predators is bad.
3. No answer given. However, America does have the world's greatest propaganda ministry.
4. Agreed. However, compulsory charity and expropriation of property is SOCIALISM / COLLECTIVISM, not usury (the abomination).
5. Agreed. BUT are you implying ANTHROPOGENIC climate change? Are you ignoring suburban sprawl and the consequences of widespread proliferation of automobiles?
6. Agreed. Voluntary charity is a blessing. Compulsory charity is a curse.
Climate change is twofold, we are currently in an inter-glacial period. Such warming has followed 5 ice ages spanning 500,000 years. Adding our destruction of the planet into the pre-existing condition has exacerbated the problems. Even our native Americans were ignorant when it came to managing land. Much of the Great plains were forested, and they had no horses to follow bison until we arrived.
So they burned the forests to create grasslands, and the bison came to them.
Henry Ford had the answer on automobiles back in the 1930's, he built one to run on bio fuel but was killed by companies such as Standard oil. Money and greed always corrupt.
The US does have the greatest propaganda industry on the planet. Our educational system is anti-intellectual/dumbing down. The less we know, the less we question.
I don't think there's a single answer to a question like that.
Civilizations can fall for so many different reasons, each having it's own unique challenges and solutions.
Rome, as an example, fell (we're talking the first fall; when it became an Empire) as a result of a lack of politics. The people of Rome, who had become increasingly diverse, started to question if the public institutions that were supposed to serve them were serving the people or if they were serving themselves. Ultimately, Caesar shows up saying he was going to fix all of that by being the will of the people himself. He, one man, would replace the numerous institutions, and because those institutions were corrupt, people believed him.
So, many external forces can threaten civilization, but I'd argue internal once are more dangerous in that they're less obvious. It's easy to recognize invaders. It's much harder to recognize corruption. And often, we see corruption selectively. It's easy to see the corruption of life long politicians, but outsider politicians often are just as corrupt but portray a "man of the people" type of figuring, even though this populist may very well be a far more serious threat to democracy than the corrupt elitists.
So, I'll throw in one thing that needs to happen: fighting against corruption, and doing so honestly and consistently. In the context of modern politics, it's very easy to Republicans (as an example) to call out the corruption of a Democrat, but often the corruption of fellow Republians get far less attention.
. Much of the Great plains were forested, and they had no horses to follow bison until we arrived.
So they burned the forests to create grasslands, and the bison came to them.
Would you be so kind as to post links to evidence / facts that support the claim that the plains were once forested?
And were burned down by the Amerindians?
Would you be so kind as to post links to evidence / facts that support the claim that the plains were once forested?
And were burned down by the Amerindians?
"Hunting - The burning of large areas was useful to divert big game (deer, elk, bison) into small unburned areas for easier hunting and provide open prairies/meadows (rather than brush and tall trees) where animals (including ducks and geese) like to dine on fresh, new grass sprouts. Fire was also used to drive game into impoundments, narrow chutes, into rivers or lakes, or over cliffs where the animals could be killed easily. Some tribes used a surround fire to drive rabbits into small areas. The Seminoles even practiced hunting alligators with fire"
EDUCATION is implicit in the definition of civilization. Intellectual development, record keeping and writing cannot exist without education.
Is socialization necessary?
Depends on the definition.
SOCIALIZE : 1. To place under government or group ownership or control: socialized medical care.
2. To cause to accept or behave in accordance with social norms or expectations.
I do not think socialization is a requirement for civilization.
I prefer the endowed right of the individual to absolutely own himself, his labor, the fruits of his labor, that which he acquires by his harmless labors, including land. That excludes collective / group ownership (i.e., socialism).
And as long as one does not trespass upon the person, liberty or property of another, his compliance with social norms or expectations is not necessary, nor punishable by law.
The degree to which a population values these ideas is largely a result of its collective socialization. Indeed the value that you yourself place on these ideas is the result of the nuances of your classically liberal, post enlightenment, western cultural socialization.
[My definition of socialization was referencing the inculcation and diffusion of cultural attributes, habits of mind, sensibilities, values, tastes.... Not socialism or any economic system.]
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