Have we reached the peak of western civilisation?

Question

You know civilisations can last a long time and things like the egyptian one and roman ones etc. all died out so how about this one?

Answer 1

Hardly close. This little police action in Iraq is nothing. It is not near as serious as Korea or Vietnam. It will gain even less space in the history books.
We have barely peaked. What our time is about is technology. I know I am preaching, but imagine this. I have several compters, digital cameras, electric car all the modern conveniences. Now the point is, there is new great things coming about everyday. I was 21 before I could afford a car. I was 22 before I owned a color TV. Technology is driving us to bigger and better things.

A little over 50 years passed between the Wright Brothers and the Moon Walk. Now the moon walk is old news. We are living longer and better.

I doubt we have peaked, I doubt your grandchildren's great grandchildren will see the peak.

Just one man's opinion.

Answer 2

This is an excellent question. It must be, because philosophers, theologians, and historians have been asking it for two thousand years. It is funny that you mention the Roman civilization, because what we know as "western civilization" arguably begins with its collapse. Since then, people have been claiming it was the end of our civilization pretty much constantly. Some of the peaks of the hysteria were during the barbarian and viking invasions, millenniumism in the year 1000, during the Black Death in the 14th and 15th centuries, during the religious wars of 15th and 16th century France, during both the Renaissance and Enlightenment (the argument there being that they'd accomplished everything man could accomplish), during the French Revolution, the British Empire, the World Wars, etc. etc. Well, here we are, still chugging along. So have we reached the peak? Possible. There is going to be a peak. Depending on how you define that peak, it could have already happened. That said, the definition can always be manipulated to fit the period at hand. How will we know? We won't until it is gone. Based on history, however, I would not put money on it being right now. It is always possible, but it is statistically unlikely. That's common sense.

Answer 3

Apparently white couples are producing fewer children than that of immigrants to Europe. Added to that, the possible advent of Turkey into the EU will cause a serious demographic problem. The other problemis that the West is trired and decadent and does not seem to have the will to defend its culture. Add to that the Muslim aim of world domination (Allah is the one and only true God) and, with the policy of appeasement currently popular then it is highly likely that the West has had its day. Weep for the likes of Mozart, Leonardo and Shakespeare or, for the younger generation, pop music. The old Arab civilisation is long gone so get used to living in the 7th century because that iis what it will mean.

Answer 4

Most western countries are growing at a tiny rate, if at all already.The ones that are safest are the "internal" ones like Norway, Denmark, Switzer. etc., but the big countries like the UK & US playing on the world market are falling dramatically (yesterday £1 = over $1.99, the lowest in years). These are the ones that are reaching their peaks.

Countries going the opposite ways are China, huge economic growth, and Japan. These countries and the rest of the far East will become the new Global Dominators within possibly the next 25 - 50 years. This is why the USA is trying to increase it's ties with Japan, Singapore and S. Korea instead of UK and rest of Europe, but the far east countries see that they will potentially be in power soon , and are slowly turning their back on America.

In UK, they are trying to introduce Manderin as a compulsary school language, for some are saying:

"The smart Brittish of the future will be those who learn Chinese."

Answer 5

what you speak of are empires , that have faded away as opposed to dying in the real sense . This East West divide is not an obsticle when you consider the ongoing globalisation whereupon the eventual outcome will be somewhere in the middle . Nuclear war would still not wipe out the human race , and life would go on

Answer 6

Economic factors might change, and that might mean
we decline somewhat; e.g we may find it difficult to get
power supplies to keep our economies going well. This could
mean less self-confidence, but no full-scale decline.

In Europe a low birth-rate could mean we get swept away
culturally by large-scale immigration, especially if global
warming makes Africa an impossible place to live.
They have their own values and ways of doing things, some very good of course. It may just be that we change culturally to
include new ideas.

Answer 7

Good question, but we won't know until we've passed the peak and reached destruction. How could we know?

Of course, if you want to be optimistic you could always go by the philosophy that "the best is yet to come." Chances are, you won't even be proved right or wrong in your lifetime.

Answer 8

Hi,Wave,
Civilization is defined as 'To male civil,to bring out of a state of barbarism,to enlighten,refine and polish'. Civilization also must acknowledge the past with regard to developing in the future.
Considering how much barbarism there still is in the world,plus the way the environment is being destroyed and wars still persist,maybe we're not as civilized as we think.
Time for a new Renaissance,I think- if we consider ourselves civilized,maybe we're just being arrogant,and it will ultimately bring about our downfall.
Keep smiling,
Misterviv

Answer 9

i have heard it said that each generation thinks that about 17-20years ago was a golden age...this is supposed to apply to each generation that have been round long enough..of course...i think for our western culture in terms of advancing we are just too lazy...as we feel all our problems are solved..we live relatively peacefully and prosperity is good...but at what cost to others..eg is it civilised to see starving children when we have land that is not producing food but could...no my friend we lull ourselves into this veneer of civilisation..it is a myth

Answer 10

All things that begin also end. If earth is not blown up by some meteorite from space we will probably be blown away by some surprise hydrogen bomb from another country which we will retaliate to and in the end we will exterminate each other.