Anti-Civilization

A few months ago I was introduced to anarcho-primitivism. Anarcho-primitivism is basically a critique on civilization. For some reason I was drawn to this philosophy, something inside me clicked, so to speak. I began to research the beliefs more deeply, and the reasoning behind this distrust, and even hatred for civilization.

While I am by no means and expert on this subject, I would like to introduce for discussion, its validity, your responses, etc. I also would like to hear all of your views on civilization itself.

To start off, I would like to use some quotes that demonstrate my newfound beliefs on civilization:

�Civilization originates in conquest abroad and repression at home.� �Jared Diamond

�Industrial technology is by nature exploitative and destructive of the materials that are necessary to maintain it.� �Richard T. LaPiere

�A visitor from Mars could easily pick out the civilized nations. They have the best implements for war.� �Herbert V. Prochnow

�Civilization is not and can never be sustainable. This is especially true for industrial civilization.� �Derrick Jensen

As you can tell, I have become very critical of civilization, and for could reason. Civilization is based upon slavery. Now, before you point out that slavery, actual owning of other people, has been abolished in �civilized� nations for over 100 years, we must look closer at society. People are slaves to money and to those in power for everything necessary for survival. People have to pay to even exist on planet Earth, for water, for food, for everything that comes freely in nature.

People pay for these because they are told it is natural and right, by governments, bosses, by society itself. Why do those in control tell people this? to improve their own economic standing; to become wealthy. This wealth comes at the expense of the environment, of the plants and animals, and of other people around the world.

People are dependent on food imported (ie: stolen) from around the world, for clothing, for water from those in power, as local food has been exterminated, water has been polluted.

Civilization is not sustainable. It is based on fossil fuels, which unreplinishable. Fossil fuels also pollute, and are destroying the environment around the world, from melting the ice caps to acid rain. Dams are built which kill rivers, and everything in them. Civilization give people the impression that they are not part of the natural, that people are somehow above the rest of life on earth, which is absurd. What gives people the right to kill of entire species? What gives people the right to kill the earth for monetary gain? Nothing. It is shameful and should be stopped, the sooner the better, before more harm is done.

Civilization has made great medical advances, true, but civilization caused many of the illnesses it treats by the horribly absurd amounts of pollution it has, and continues to produce. Hunter-Gathering peoples lived long and healthy lives, the only negative being high infant mortality rates. However, hunter-gather societies did not destroy the planet, as civilization. Now, many �civilized� feel that hunter gatherers had hard lives, and modern life is much preferable. However,� if you measure some standards, such as the number automobiles, yes; if you measure others, such as leisure time, sustainability, social equality, and food security�meaning no one goes hungry�hunter-gatherers win hands down�� (Jensen, Endgame Volume I pg 52).

So, if you value things and wealth above equality, sustainability, environmental health, then yes, civilization is better. (If you do value things and wealth above life, then there is no help for you)

One reason why hunter-gatherers had food security and sustainability is because a) the limited their population so they would not outstrip what their land-base could sustain and b) they did not over hunt, over-gather (lol, is that a word?) so their land base wouldn�t be harmed.

Civilization does not respect life. It uses life to gain wealth and power into the hands of a few elites, be the kings, dictators, or politicians. Civilization does not respect the natural world. It uses, abuses, and destroys it. Anyone who values life should oppose civilization.

A year ago I wouldn�t be writing this. A year ago I was enamored with civilization, or rather the perceived benifets of civilization: wealth and things. My eyes are open now, and hopefully all of yours will open to.

*This isn�t worded, phrased as eloquently as I would like it to, but I want to share this with you all as soon as possible*

Info on anarcho-primitivism and where I got lots of my info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarcho-primitivism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Zerzan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derrick_Jensen

http://www.insurgentdesire.org.uk/index.htm (this has lots of great articles and essays)

Endgame Volume 1: The Problem of Civilization by Derrick Jensen

Endgame Volume 2: Resistance by Derrick Jensen

The movie Surplus: terrorized into being consumers (it is in 10 parts, the link is the first part, and you can find the others through this link)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AEiwOM4fAY

The movie dead society:

http://deadsociety.org/view.html

Also from lectures, discussions, arguments, my personal observations.

edit: I want to add one more source: