Civilized to Death

1. Civilization Isn't Always Progress: Question the Narrative

But upon closer inspection, many of the supposed gifts of civilization turn out to be little more than partial compensation for what we’ve already paid, or they cause as much trouble as they claim to solve.

Challenging assumptions. The book urges readers to critically examine the widely accepted belief that civilization inherently equates to progress. It suggests that many advancements attributed to civilization come at a significant cost, often creating new problems while only partially addressing old ones. This perspective encourages a more balanced assessment of modern society.

Examples of civilization's costs:

• Infectious diseases: Many diseases emerged or worsened due to domesticated animals and densely populated areas.
• Warfare: Technological advancements led to more efficient means of violence and destruction.
• Inequality: Progressive societies are only now regaining acceptance and respect for LGBTQ people and women, which were typically received in most foraging societies.

Progress vs. Adaptation. The author distinguishes between progress and adaptation, arguing that adaptation doesn't necessarily mean a species is getting "better," but merely more suited to its environment. This distinction highlights the importance of considering the context and consequences of societal changes.

2. Prehistoric Life: Egalitarian, Mobile, and Rooted in Gratitude

Hunter-gatherer bands and small agricultural villages are by and large egalitarian.

Forager societies. The book paints a picture of prehistoric hunter-gatherer societies characterized by egalitarianism, mobility, and a deep sense of gratitude towards their environment. These societies prioritized individual autonomy, sharing, and cooperation, fostering a sense of community and well-being.

Key characteristics of forager life:

• Egalitarianism: Leadership was informal and based on respect, not coercion.
• Mobility: Frequent movement allowed people to avoid conflict and seek better resources.
• Gratitude: A sense of abundance and appreciation for the natural world prevailed.

Contrasting narratives. This depiction challenges the traditional view of prehistoric life as a constant struggle for survival, suggesting that our ancestors enjoyed a more balanced and fulfilling existence than often portrayed. This perspective encourages a reevaluation of modern values and priorities.

3. Civilization's Discontents: A Trade-Off of Freedom for Toil

We refuse to recognize that everything better is purchased at the price of something worse.

The civilized conundrum. The book explores the paradox that despite technological advancements and increased wealth, modern societies often experience high rates of unhappiness, depression, and anxiety. This suggests that civilization, while offering certain benefits, may also create conditions that undermine human well-being.

The shift from foraging to farming:

• Increased social inequality
• Organized conflict and violence
• Self-appointed elites using religion to consolidate power

The illusion of leisure. Despite predictions of a leisurely future, the average person works as many hours today as in 1970, with wealth concentrated at the top. This highlights the trade-off between material progress and personal freedom.

4. The Agricultural Revolution: A Desperate Adaptation, Not a Triumph

Adopting agriculture was “tantamount to declaring war on local ecosystems.”

The worst mistake? The book challenges the conventional view of the agricultural revolution as a positive turning point in human history. It argues that agriculture was less a clever advance and more a desperate attempt to survive, leading to a decline in overall quality of life.

Negative consequences of agriculture:

• Decreased health and longevity
• Increased social inequality
• More violence and organized conflict

A last resort. Agriculture arose independently in multiple locations as a response to deteriorating environmental conditions, suggesting it was a "last resort" rather than a deliberate choice for a better life. This perspective questions the narrative of progress as a linear and always beneficial process.

5. Civilization's Dark Side: Brutality, Inequality, and the Demonization of the "Other"

For the first time there appeared on earth kings, dictators, high priests, emperors, prime ministers, presidents, governors, mayors, generals, admirals, police chiefs, judges, lawyers, and jailers, along with dungeons, jails, penitentiaries, and concentration camps.

The cost of power. The book highlights the historical brutality and exploitation that have often accompanied civilization. It argues that the rise of the state led to the subjugation of individuals, the creation of hierarchies, and the justification of violence against those deemed "uncivilized."

Examples of civilizational cruelty:

• The Spanish conquest of the Americas and the genocide of native populations
• The transatlantic slave trade and the dehumanization of enslaved people
• The Holocaust and other acts of systematic violence against marginalized groups

The myth of the savage. The book challenges the notion that "civilized" societies are inherently more moral or advanced than "uncivilized" ones, arguing that the demonization of the "other" has been used to justify oppression and exploitation throughout history.

6. The Malthusian and Hobbesian Myths: Justifications for Inequality and Control

The poverty and misery which prevail among the lower classes of society are absolutely irremediable.

Challenging Malthus. The book critiques Thomas Malthus's theory that population growth will always outstrip resources, leading to inevitable poverty and misery. It argues that Malthus's calculations were based on flawed assumptions and served to justify social inequality.

Hobbes's flawed vision. The book challenges Thomas Hobbes's depiction of pre-state life as "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short." It argues that this view is inaccurate and serves to legitimize authoritarian control.

The utility of fear. The book suggests that the Malthusian and Hobbesian narratives persist because they serve to maintain the status quo, justifying inequality and discouraging rebellion by portraying suffering as inevitable.

7. The Illusion of Progress: A Fear-Based Narrative

Progress has an internal logic that can lead beyond reason to catastrophe.

The dangers of blind faith. The book warns against the uncritical acceptance of progress as an inherently positive force. It argues that a blind faith in progress can lead to complacency, denial of problems, and ultimately, catastrophe.

The optimism bias. The book points to the "optimism bias," a psychological tendency to dismiss disturbing evidence and accentuate positive information, as a factor that undermines our ability to correct course before it's too late.

The functions of fear. The book suggests that the belief in progress serves as a "painkiller," a faith-in-the-future antidote to a present too terrifying to contemplate. This perspective encourages a more realistic and critical assessment of the state of the world.

8. Human Nature vs. Civilization: A Clash of Expectations

We are the only species that lives in zoos of our own design.

Capacities vs. tendencies. The book emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between human capacities and tendencies. While humans are capable of a wide range of behaviors, not all of them resonate equally well with our nature as a species.

Innate expectations. Drawing on Jean Liedloff's "Continuum Concept," the book argues that human beings have innate expectations based on the experiences of their ancestors. When these expectations are not met, it can lead to trauma, confusion, and suffering.

The human zoo. The book suggests that civilization has created a "zoo" of our own design, in which our lives are often at odds with our evolved nature. This perspective encourages a search for ways to create a more harmonious and fulfilling existence.

9. Reclaiming Our Humanity: The Path Back to Well-being

It is necessary now not only to ‘know thyself,’ but also to ‘know thy species’ and to understand the ‘wisdom’ of nature, and especially living nature, if we are to understand and help man develop his own wisdom in a way that will lead to life of such quality as to make living a desirable and fulfilling experience.

Knowing our species. The book emphasizes the importance of understanding human nature, particularly the ways in which our species evolved to thrive in small, egalitarian communities. This knowledge can inform our efforts to create a more fulfilling and sustainable future.

Prosocial values. The book highlights the prosocial values that were essential to the survival of our hunter-gatherer ancestors, including generosity, honesty, and mutual respect. These values, it argues, are still cherished by most modern humans at a gut level.

A new origin story. The book suggests that our species may be starting to tell a new, more accurate origin story that allows for far happier endings than the Narrative of Perpetual Progress. This new story emphasizes our innate capacities for cooperation, community, and kindness.

10. The Power of Belief: Shaping Reality and Healing Trauma

Who tells the story creates the world.

Narrative as paradigm. The book emphasizes the power of stories to shape our perceptions and behaviors. It argues that origin stories are as predictive and constraining as they are explanatory, delimiting where we can go from here.

The self-fulfilling prophecy. The book suggests that the belief that human nature tends toward nastiness and brutality can become a self-fulfilling prophecy, leading us to behave in ways that perpetuate conflict and suffering.

Breaking free. To break free of behaviors and beliefs that perpetuate conflict between our inner and outer nature, it's essential to take another look at the Narrative of Perpetual Progress, which overstates the benefits of civilization while ignoring many of its costs.

11. A Prehistoric Path into the Future: Reimagining Society

Modern humans are lost, and we’re looking for ways to go home.

Learning from the past. The book suggests that the key to creating a better future lies in understanding and replicating the social structures and values that allowed our ancestors to thrive for hundreds of thousands of years.

Peer networks. The book highlights the potential of peer networks, enabled by modern technology, to replicate the egalitarian and collaborative dynamics of hunter-gatherer societies.

A new enlightenment. The book envisions a future in which our species rediscovers its innate capacities for cooperation, community, and kindness, creating a more harmonious and sustainable world.

12. The End of All Our Exploring: Knowing the Place for the First Time

And the end of all our exploring / Will be to arrive where we started / And know the place for the first time.

Returning to our roots. The book suggests that our desperate peregrinations are in search of a place much like the home we left when we walked out of the garden and started to farm. Our most urgent dreams may simply reflect the world as it was before we fell asleep.

Acceptance and understanding. The book emphasizes the importance of accepting the inevitability of death and understanding the true nature of our species as essential steps on the path to a life worth living.

A necessary utopia. The book concludes with a call for a reimagining of society based on the principles of egalitarianism, cooperation, and respect for the natural world, creating a future worthy of our origins.

Last updated: February 14, 2025