criticisms of civilization

Civilization has been criticized from a variety of viewpoints and for many reasons. Some critics have objected to all aspects of civilization; others have stated that civilization brings a mixture of good and bad effects.

Many environmentalists criticize civilizations for their exploitation of the environment. Through intensive agriculture and urban growth, civilizations tend to destroy natural settings and habitats. This is sometimes referred to as "dominator culture". Proponents of this view believe that traditional societies live in greater harmony with nature than civilizations; people work with nature rather than try to subdue it. The sustainable living movement is a push from some members of civilization to regain that harmony with nature.

Anarcho-primitivism is a modern philosophy which completely opposes civilization. According to anarcho-primitivism, civilizations restrict human potential, oppress the weak, and damage the environment. Primitivists advocate a return to a more primitive way of life which they consider to be in the best interests of both nature and human beings. Leading proponents are John Zerzan and Derrick Jensen.

However, not all past and present critics of civilization believe that a primitive way of life is better. Some have argued that many negative aspects of current 'civilized' nations can be overcome. For example, Karl Marx, co-founder of Marxism, argued that the beginning of civilization was the beginning of oppression and exploitation, but also believed that these things would eventually be overcome and communism would be established throughout the world. He envisioned communism not as a return to any sort of idyllic past, but as a new stage of civilization.

Conflict theory in the social sciences also views the present form of civilization as being based on the domination of some people by others, but does not judge the issue morally.

Given the current problems with the sustainability of industrial civilization, some, like Derrick Jensen, who posits civilization to be inherently unsustainable, argue that we need to develop a social form of "post-civilization" as different from civilization as the latter was with pre-civilized peoples.

References

• John Zerzan, Against Civilization: Readings and Reflections, Feral House, 2005, ISBN 0922915989
• Derrick Jensen, Endgame, Vol. 1: The Problem of Civilization, Seven Stories Press, 2006, ISBN 158322730X
• Derrick Jensen, Endgame, Vol. 2: Resistance, Seven Stories Press, 2006, ISBN 1583227245
• John Zerzan, Running on Emptiness: The Pathology of Civilization, Feral House, 2008, ISBN 092291575X

External links

• Primitivism.com An website critical of civilization
• Insurgentdesire.org.uk Anti-civilization website
• Green Anarchy Anarcho-primitivist journal
• Green Anarchist A magazine critical of civilization