What Causes Societal Collapse? (w/ Luke Kemp)

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What has caused societal collapse throughout human history? Are those condition present today?

This week, we talk to author Luke Kemp in a thought-provoking conversations about one of the best books of the year, Kemp's Goliath's Curse: The History and Future of Societal Collapse. Kemp challenges conventional narratives by redefining civilization as a series of dominance hierarchies, or "Goliaths," that have historically led to societal downfall. He argues that these structures, characterized by inequality and concentrated power, have been precursors to collapse throughout history. And that's a big problem today. 

In this episode, we discuss how today's unique conditions of global interconnectedness, technological complexity, and unprecedented environmental destruction make us more vulnerable than ever. He introduces the concept of "Death Star Syndrome," where our highly interconnected world, much like the fictional Death Star, appears robust but is susceptible to catastrophic failure from a single point of weakness. This vulnerability is exacerbated by modern existential threats like climate change, nuclear weapons, and AI, which are often viewed in isolation but are deeply interconnected through global systems of inequality and resource extraction. So what do we do about it? 

We explore the potential of "deep democracy," collective action, elimination of existential threats, and emphasizing that empowering diverse groups with good information and resources that can lead to better decision-making and a more equitable future.

Luke Kemp is a research affiliate at the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk at the University of Cambridge. He has lectured in the fields of economics and human geography, and has advised the World Health Organization, the Australian Parliament, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, and many other institutions. His research has been covered by media outlets such as The New York Times, the BBC, and The New Yorker.

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