- #31
owl3951
- 41
- 1
At all times the natural world is seeking equilibrium. However, change is the order of the day, and new factors enter systems disrupting equilibriums. At which point, systems attempt to incorporate the new factors, and once again seek equilibrium.
So it is with human systems. At one time, social evolution encompassed the individual. But humanity stretched its mind and developed capacity for family systems. Continuing to grow, society became tribal. Rome emerged as a city-state empire. Islam developed the world's first nation.
As society grows more capable of expansion, each stage is accompanied by two forces: those forces of decay which eventually work to tear down the barriers to systemic evolution, and those forces of positive growth which take society to the next stage.
Human history is a careening, sometimes staggering, growth towards greater complexity. We are now trying to outgrow nations, and emerge into a world state. Much confusion, antagonism and pain will accompany resistance and hanging onto the outworn shibboleths of past ages, while the trial-and-error expansion into the next societal system will cause it own problems.
Is it a question of "better" or of "inevitability"?
So it is with human systems. At one time, social evolution encompassed the individual. But humanity stretched its mind and developed capacity for family systems. Continuing to grow, society became tribal. Rome emerged as a city-state empire. Islam developed the world's first nation.
As society grows more capable of expansion, each stage is accompanied by two forces: those forces of decay which eventually work to tear down the barriers to systemic evolution, and those forces of positive growth which take society to the next stage.
Human history is a careening, sometimes staggering, growth towards greater complexity. We are now trying to outgrow nations, and emerge into a world state. Much confusion, antagonism and pain will accompany resistance and hanging onto the outworn shibboleths of past ages, while the trial-and-error expansion into the next societal system will cause it own problems.
Is it a question of "better" or of "inevitability"?