Beyond Civilization: Humanity's Next Great Adventure
"Once upon a time life evolved on a certain planet, bringing forth
many different social organizations—packs, pods, flocks, troops, herds,
and so on. One species whose members were unusually intelligent
developed a unique social organization called a tribe. Tribalism worked
well for them for millions of years, but there came a time when they
decided to experiment with a new social organization (called
civilization) that was hierarchal rather than tribal. Before long, those
at the top of the hierarchy were living in great luxury, enjoying
perfect leisure and having the best of everything. A larger class of
people below them lived very well and had nothing to complain about. But
the masses living at the bottom of the hierarchy didn't like it at all.
They worked and lived like pack animals, struggling just to stay alive.
"This isn't working," the masses said. "The tribal way was better. We
should return to that way." But the ruler of the hierarchy told them,
"We've put that primitive life behind us forever. We can't go back to
it."
"If we can't go back," the masses said, "then let's go forward—on to something different."
"That can't be done," the ruler said, "because nothing different is
possible. Nothing can be beyond civilization. Civilization is a final,
unsurpassable invention."
"But no invention is ever
unsurpassable. The steam engine was surpassed by the gas engine. The
radio was surpassed by television. The calculator was surpassed by the
computer. Why should civilization be different?"
"I don't know why it's different," the ruler said, "It just is."
But the masses didn't believe this—and neither do I."
- Daniel Quinn, from the book: Beyond Civilization: Humanity's Next Great Adventure
