Is Destruction Necessary For Societies To Progress?

Question

When society or a nation becomes to big; just like a forest that grows to big a fire is inevitable and wipes out what is not needed. Many of the world powers eventually fell when power became to big for them; Egypt, Rome, Germany, Russia; they each owned what was known at the time but eventually rebellion and wars took over.

It seems that destruction is necessary for societies to come together and progress. If you look at 9/11 maybe it is a wake up call to stay out of foreign affairs and don't let us become to powerful for our own good. Look at Canada, they are just as wealthy and successful as us here in the States but nobody is attacking them for the reason that they do not get involved with anybody's business.

So it might be sad to ask but does destruction come as inevitable when things get out of hand and it is time for a change?

Answer 1

The Italian philosopher and historian Vico identified four stages to the history of any civilization. It's an interesting theory. The first is pre-history, and the time when myths and legends form. Then there is the classical period, when great thoughts are formulated, and great men arise. Next follows an age of expansion, and great progress to the common man, the rise first of nation states, then of larger and larger networks of trade and communication, and maximum freedom and power to the individual, and finally, a kind of frenzied culmination where the whole structure is too great and various to sustain itself and it suffers some kind of cataclysm, most often war followed by a decay... and from this, as his theory goes, the next cycle arises, often fertilized by the remnants of the previous, often growing right in the ruins of the first...

We can see this in the east, the middle east and the west as a fairly consistent pattern among the civilizations we have studied.

Answer 2

Just to point out, while Canada is doing well it is not a rich country.

You point out that large empires have fallen in the past. But countless more tiny insignificant communities have been wiped out by disease, slavery, natural disasters, etc.... that don't even get mentioned. Even little tribal African villages war with each other.

This type of fighting (wars) and destruction come about as the result of competition over finite resources, and nothing more.

Answer 3

Absolutely not. Canadians are not rich. Their government confiscates more than half their earnings in taxes. Many come to the US to shop. Many come to the US for health care.

The US has continued to progress, despite the interference of several major wars. We are the best country, we have the strongest military, our economy is on a roll. And you are preaching gloom and doom. It makes no logical sense.

Answer 4

yes, although very unpleasent, dead wood and underbrush need to be removed and or burned off to prevent bigger fires, and renew the forest, same for societies.