The Trilogy of Human Civilization

Humans are fortunate to have Earth, a habitable island in the vast sea of stars; humans are also unfortunate because, within the known range, we cannot find another place to go.

Many people may not understand a lot of things right now and feel confused about the future. However, once you look further, to the entire history of civilization, everything has a pattern to follow, and the future will become clearer.

The Age of Survival

The goal of civilization was to use limited resources to extend the race.

For a long time during the birth of civilization (millions of years?), humans were not much different from animals in nature, with the primary need being to fill their stomachs, struggling on the line of subsistence. Whether it was ancient hunting and fishing or later farming and herding, it was all about survival.

During this period, our utilization rate of resources was extremely low, and labor was relatively scarce. To plunder labor and resources, wars were frequent.

The Age of Surplus

The heritage of human civilization and the progress of technology ushered us into the Age of Surplus. With the emergence of tools such as steam engines and electrical appliances, a modern commercial society gradually established itself. For the first time, humans were able to fill their stomachs and even produce goods exceeding demand.

The increase in resource utilization led to explosive population growth and unprecedented economic prosperity. Humans truly transcended the animal kingdom, becoming a distinct civilization.

However, the Earth’s living space is limited, and population growth gradually stabilized. Technology continued to advance, and what once required everyone to labor, now only 1% of people need to work to meet the needs of the entire world.

So, what should the remaining 99% of people do? On one hand, humans continually create various new demands, including virtual and service-oriented ones. On the other hand, periodic economic crises cause production activities to pause periodically to match the relatively lagging development level of society. Meanwhile, social welfare mechanisms provide basic resources for the rest.

The Age of Freedom

Then, artificial intelligence emerged, and productivity exploded. Modern production almost no longer required human involvement. Humans were freed from production for the first time.

So, besides relying on welfare mechanisms to maintain life, what else can humans do? Perhaps only entertainment and a small amount of artistic creation are left.

Conclusion

From the Age of Survival to the Age of Surplus, and then to the Age of Freedom, human civilization has undergone tremendous changes.

In a future where human labor is almost unnecessary, how can we find new meaning and value? The future human society may no longer center on material production but instead focus on spiritual pursuits and self-improvement. We need to redefine the meaning of “work” and “life,” exploring new social structures and value systems.