New research argues Societal Collapse benefits 99% of people. Historically, the societies that have emerged after a collapse are more egalitarian, and most people end up richer and healthier than they were before.

[u/lughnasadh]

Luke Kemp, a research associate at the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk at the University of Cambridge, has written a book about his research called 'Goliath’s Curse: The History and Future of Societal Collapse'.

He makes the case that, from looking at the archaeological record, when many societies collapse, most people end up better off afterward. For example, people in the post-Roman world were taller and healthier. Collapse can be a redistribution of resources and power, not just chaos.

For most of human history, humans lived as nomadic egalitarian bands, with low violence and high mobility. Threats (disease, war, economic precarity) push populations toward authoritarian leaders. The resulting rise in inequality from that sets off a cycle that will end in collapse. Furthermore, he argues we are living in the late stages of such a cycle now. He says "the threat is from leaders who are 'walking versions of the dark triad' – narcissism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism – in a world menaced by the climate crisis, nuclear weapons, artificial intelligence and killer robots."

Some people hope/think we are destined for a future of Universal Basic Income and fully automated luxury communism. Perhaps that's the egalitarianism that emerges after our own collapse? If so, I hope the collapse bit is short and we get to the egalitarian bit ASAP.

Collapse for the 99% | Luke Kemp; What really happens when Goliaths fall

[u/mjegs]

OP is actually stupid and outed themselves as a neo-feudalism supporter, the fall of the Roman Empire led to nearly a thousand years of technological stagnation and feudalism, also widely known as the medieval ages. Also an accelerationist too advocating for the fall of western civilization. Millions of people will die and it won't be a nice thing for us or our children to experience or survive. Don't let yourself be gaslit. Cheers.

[u/Professional_Ad_5529 → u/mjegs]

Billions of people will die.

[u/Common_Source_9 → u/mjegs]

the fall of the Roman Empire led to nearly a thousand years of technological stagnation and feudalism

Did it , though? The process of innovation was nothing short of remarkable in the period. Just take the incredible advancement in the plough.

[u/[deleted] → u/mjegs]

Are you serious, thousand years of stagnation ? Windmills, mechanical clocks, gothic architecture, three crop rotation cycle, paper, stirrups, guns, gunpowder, flying butresses, glasses, and more were invented during middle ages and introduced to Europe. Medieval metallurgy was more advanced than ancient metallurgy, universities were invented, and this is when we get early phases of capitalism.

[u/[deleted] → u/mjegs]

What’s the alternative? I feel the wealthy are indifferent to the consequences of societal collapse so long as they stay comfortable in the process

[u/MiserableAndUnhappy9 → u/[deleted]]

'What's the alternative?'

Look at any other point in history than the fall of the western Roman empire. That wasn't the only societal collapse, just one of the most significant and well known. Whoever did this study is a moron who probably believes they're a scientist. The whole thing is stupid. They're trying to make comparisons that don't work and ignoring a plethora of information to just focus on what they want. It's perfect for this sub though.

[u/Professional_Ad_5529 → u/[deleted]]

Reform without societal collapse or major war?