"Philosophy" meetup - "The Fall" (Collapse of Civilizations)

Please join us every other Saturday for a casual
philosophical discussion. Most weeks we will preselect a topic and add suggested readings, but some weeks will be open discussion. These meetings are lightly facilitated and open to anyone who likes to discuss life's fundamental questions.

This week's meetup is on the topic of "the fall" of civilizations. Why do great societies collapse? Is it resource depletion, moral decay, external conquest, or just the inevitable cycle of rise and decline? Do civilizations ever truly “end,” or do they transform into something new? What can the ruins of past empires teach us about resilience, hubris, and adaptation? And perhaps most importantly—what are the human repercussions of collapse: loss of knowledge, cultural memory, and trust in institutions? Could collapse also open space for renewal or more just systems?

No "homework" is necessary to engage in the discussion, but here are a couple resources to get the mind thinking around the subject.

For those who want to dive deep into the topic, here is an in-depth video from Paul Cooper, host of the "Fall of Civilizations" podcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzxvV70o344

For those who prefer a quick read, here is an article addressing the issue through the lens of complexity theory: https://longnow.org/ideas/reimagining-the-rise-and-fall-of-civilizations/

** Group guidelines**

• All perspectives are welcome
• Everyone has an opportunity to speak and listen
• Dialogue is respectful and open
• No prior philosophical knowledge required!