The Collapse of Western Civilization

A 2300 map of New York shows the state mostly under water.

Although humans were aware of the impending climate crisis, they failed to act, largely because of widespread reliance on “positivism and market fundamentalism.” Positivism, often attributed to the philosopher Auguste Comte, holds that knowledge is achieved through observation; it is similar to “Baconianism,” a philosophy that states that knowledge and empowerment can be gained through observation, experience, and experimentation.

Knowledge, however, does not result in power, as demonstrated through the widespread knowledge of climate change and the failure to act to prevent it. Rather, power remained within social institutions that supported the fossil fuel industry—a system referred to as the “carbon-combustion complex.” Organizations within this system spread disinformation that was reported alongside climate facts, giving the illusion that the disinformation supplied valid counterarguments when, instead, it supported the continuation of the carbon-combustion complex. While some scientists attempted to push back, many in Western society favored emotionally charged politics and market fundamentalism while rejecting science.

Market fundamentalism is an ideology that a free or unregulated market is the most efficient method of meeting social needs. The so-called “invisible hand” of the market would inherently mitigate supply and demand, balancing power distribution while promoting personal freedom. Neoliberalism, an element of free market fundamentalism, focuses on the connection between freedom and the free market—“to protect personal liberty—political, civic, religious, artistic—economic liberty had to be preserved” (38). These idealistic ideas originated in the 1700s and 1800s in monarchal countries and influenced social and governmental conditions in multiple countries, including the US and France.

In the 1800s, industrialists rose to power, which challenged the idea of weak governments. Philosopher Karl Marx spoke out against capitalism, arguing that corrupt industrialists exploited employees and disrupted democracy. Multiple nations were inspired by Karl Marx and adopted communism, while other governments enacted reforms, such as the abolition of slavery and the development of anti-monopoly “antitrust laws” in the US. In the early 1900s, people recognized that free market capitalism was detrimental, and after The Great Depression and World War II, many nations adopted “mixed” economic systems that combined free market principles with government regulations.

Communism was found to be worse than capitalism, as it enabled dictatorship while failing to provide adequate goods and services. In the 1900s under Joseph Stalin, the dictator of Soviet Russia, and Mao Zedong, a Chinese dictator, millions perished. The Cold War followed World War II, resulting in a battle between communist and capitalist ideals. As a result, the Western world largely rejected government interventions, even those that would be beneficial, such as affordable healthcare and environmental regulation.

Neoliberalism was promoted by individuals such as Friedrich von Hayek and Milton Friedman, who viewed centralized governments as oppressive and who argued that personal freedom required free market economics. While neoliberalism was initially unpopular, it gained traction in the 1980s after Western economic growth flattened. The historian notes irony in the idea that von Hayek recognized the importance of science; however, after studies suggested government market intervention was necessary to protect humans and the environment, the science was rejected.

After the Cold War, the First People’s Republic of China enacted reforms while the Soviet Union collapsed, and this collapse was used to support the superiority of capitalism. Industrialists and their financial backers urged the need for a purer form of capitalism, which catalyzed a series of deregulations leading to severe power and wealth inequality. Despite widespread support of neoliberalism, the free market system failed, as it could not address major environmental concerns. The necessary government interventions were rejected by neoliberals.

The public generally denied climate change, immobilizing political leaders, and as climate change and market failure became undeniable, scientists were blamed. Scientists and artists encouraged the “precautionary principle,” which promoted preventative actions to avoid later consequences. While this notion had previously been common sense, it was rare after the rise of neoliberalism. Neoliberalism prevented the development of renewable energy sources by inhibiting planning for the future, reducing society to disaster mitigation rather than disaster prevention.

Some, including von Hayek, recognized the harms of the so-called free market and the need for government intervention. Von Hayek noted several areas of acceptable government interference, such as in preserving the environment and limiting dangerous materials; these protections, he argued, were worth limiting the freedom of some individuals and organizations. The neoliberalist rejection of government interference ironically led to necessary government interference to mitigate the consequences of climate change.