TEDTalk Tuesday: Why Societies Collapse

[Occulus]

Today's TEDTALKTUESDAY covers the timely topic of societal collapse. From the Norse to the Mayans to present-day Montana, today's speaker tells us of societies which have collapsed in the past, touches on where we are today, and in the end asks us to think about the problems facing modern civilization, and how we might face those problems.

Enjoy!

JAREDDIAMOND

Talk title: Why Societies Collapse (video runtime: 18:21)

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Jared Diamond

Wiki bio

About this talk

Why do societies fail? With lessons from the Norse of Iron Age Greenland, deforested Easter Island and present-day Montana, Jared Diamond talks about the signs that collapse is near, and how -- if we see it in time -- we can prevent it.

[SteppingRazor]

1. I'll have to check that out. I read his book Guns, Germs and Steel and found it fascinating. n/t

[seemslikeadream]

2. Thanks kgfnally

[HereSince1628]

3. Collapse was a great read.

So many warnings to be heeded.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. Collapse is a pretty good book.

I wonder what Diamond has to say about the Iceland situation.

[appal_jack]

5. wait, what happened to Montana?!?

Last I passed through there, it looked OK.

:shrug:

-app

[Occulus]

6. (Un)sustainability.

He touches upon it in his talk. Logging vs. regulation, preference for less governmental influence vs. policies that would limit logging, etc.

[appal_jack]

8. Oh yes. Of Course...

Oh yes. Of course Montana (and most of the rest of the US) is completely unsustainable. My first reading of the OP had me thinking that a collapse of some sort had already happened there, and Diamond was discussing it.

Actually, a collapse of sorts DID already happen in Montana (and the US) during the megafauna extinctions of 15,000 years ago. Probably anthropogenic. Diamond discussed this in Guns, Germs, and Steel I believe. I haven't read all of Collapse yet, but know from what I have read that Diamond is on-point.

-app

[puerco-bellies]

7. K & R These TEDTALKS are the best.

I need to read his book.