Arnold Toynbee points out that each mature civilization enjoys its era of socioeconomic prosperity but ultimately succumbs to “the mirage of immortality,” assuming that its good fortune will continue unabated forever. He also notes: “A society does not ever die ‘from natural causes,’ but always does from suicide or murder—and nearly always from the former.” … Continue reading Wealth, Energy, and Human Values: The Dynamics of Decaying Civilizations from Ancient Greece to America (2009)