A Case Against Civilization Analysis

We have sent a man to the moon, we can get to somewhere miles away in minutes, and we can communicate with someone from across the globe almost instantaneously. These are just a few examples of the fantastic technology that we have developed that allows us to do things that our ancestors could never have even dreamed of. Surely, civilization as we know it is far superior to the pre-neolithic people. Well, according to John Lanchester’s article, “A Case Against Civilization,” our perceived achievements is nothing to be proud of. Walter Benjamin, a great German Jewish cultural critic, once said that every complicated and beautiful thing humanity ever made has, if you look at it long enough, shows a shadow, a history of oppression, and Lanchester’s …show more content…
Scott was the first major proponent of the idea that was referenced in Lanchester’s article. “Against the Grain: A Deep History of the Earliest States,” written by Scott, concludes that humanity's’ downfall begins with the domestication of animals and the agricultural revolution in the late-neolithic period. Agriculture and domestication of animals was not always a bad thing as it allowed for more than one source of food for when one became unavailable. This was before humanity committed to intensive single-crop agriculture, however. After that point, the bones of the single crop producers show evidence that life became worse: they were shorter, sicker, and died at a much higher rate. This was further exacerbated by their living in close proximity to domesticated animals because it led to diseases of animal origin that wreaked havoc on the now densely populated communities. Scott also wrote that the production of cereal grains led to subsequent taxation on it, which then led to slavery and war. And while writing was a beneficial invention during this time, this apparent sole achievement of the neolithic period is overshadowed by the general ill health and war that plagued the …show more content…
Although the neolithic people had a shortened lifespan due to their lifestyle, our extreme growth of technology has allowed us to change that. Humans have never lived as long as we do today, and it is all thanks to the development of civilization. Admittedly, disease has been a major problem for developed civilizations, but medicine has developed as a direct result of the disease, and we are now able to fight diseases that otherwise would kill a hunter-gatherer. Civilization also may have turned us “soft,” and greed certainly exists, however, for those who are fortunate, life has become something amazing. We are able to receive education on topics unfathomable to hunter-gatherers, can explore most of the world without much fear, and many are even making massive efforts to aid those in need in order to overcome greed. Despite the treacherous road to modern civilization, I feel that I am at a great, forward thinking time in history, and it seems that the future is limitless. For hunter-gatherers, their goals and aspirations are limited. That may be enough for them to be happy, which is great, but I am happy in the modern civilized