A strong explanation of the ‘Fermi paradox’ is provided by the theory of the 'Great Filter'. The filter can also be described as a barrier or hurdle. The assumption arises from the many possible catastrophes that can put an abrupt end to the further development of a species during its long evolutionary history. Just think of the dinosaurs here on earth. According to a controversial theory, the eruption of a supervolcano on the island of Sumatra 75,000 years ago reduced humanity to a few thousand people. In this way, the development of intelligent life on other planets in the universe can also be impeded and the progress of civilisations made impossible. We know from human history just how much natural disasters can influence the world. If the Tunguska event in 1908 had not taken place over Siberia, but over the Ruhr area in Germany, the First World War would almost certainly not have happened. The world would probably look a little different today.
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Apocalypse - Painting by Albert Goodwin, 1903 |
Even if humanity could end all wars and realise world peace, the biggest hurdle for the survival of our species would still have to be overcome. It is climate change caused by global warming. This threatening situation is a result of our civilisation and began at a time when people were not yet aware of it. In principle, it started when our ancestors made fires in their caves to keep warm. The climate crisis is expected to worsen significantly in the coming years. The current storms, floods, droughts and wildfires are just a foretaste of what is to come.
If the United Nations system collapses in the course of increasing catastrophes, authoritarian powers will attempt to take over the world order. The Chinese Communist Party and Putin's Russia are already fantasising about it. India, Brazil and South Africa are not averse. There are many smaller dictatorships that will be happy to join in. ‘America first’ will then become the arse of the world. It's hard to imagine the chaos that will ensue. Only the iron fist of a ‘dictatorship of reason’ will be able to control it. However, this will not be able to solve the world's problems either, but will lead to even more death and destruction. I have already addressed this scenario in my article ‘Global empire or federal world union?' A tolerable passage through the ‘Great Filter’ is only conceivable for humanity in the form of a democratic world federation. Whether it will succeed depends on us humans.
Please read my detailed article at Substack:
Can mankind survive? - by Richard Maxheim
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