Civilizational achievement may be cyclical, not linearly progressive

Evidence

When civilizations first emerge, their people are usually vigorous, dynamic, brutal, mobile, and expansionist. They are relatively unCivilized. As the civilization evolves it becomes more settled and develops the techniques and skills that make it more Civilized. As the competition among its constituent elements tapers off and a universal state emerges, the civilization reaches its highest level of Civilization, its “golden age,” with a flowering of morality, art, literature, philosophy, technology, and martial, economic, and political competence. As it goes into decay as a civilization, its level of Civilization also declines until it disappears under the onslaught of a different surging civilization with a lower level of Civilization. — Samuel P. Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations and the…, 899 (#expands, via linked claim)

The overriding lesson of the history of civilizations, however, is that many things are probable but nothing is inevitable. Civilizations can and have reformed and renewed themselves. The central issue for the West is whether, quite apart from any external challenges, it is capable of stopping and reversing the internal processes of decay. Can the West renew itself or will sustained internal rot simply accelerate its end and/or subordination to other economically and demographically more dynamic civilizations? — Samuel P. Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations and the…, 836 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Technological mastery of iron separated thriving from perished civilisations; The zenith of past achievements often marks the start of decline we cannot see — Mark Fisher (edited by Darren Ambrose), K-Punk: The Collected and Unpublished…, 1552; Civilizational progress does not automatically increase tolerance (+7 more)

Broader Connections

• Levels of civilization rise and fall in cycles tied to each civilization’s life phase #expands (0.93) — Samuel P. Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations and the…, 899
• Civilizational decay is reversible through intentional renewal #complicates (0.86) — Samuel P. Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations and the…, 836
• Civilizational progress does not automatically increase tolerance #complicates (0.72)