◄ Episode Description
Joseph is a professor in the Department of Environment and Society at Utah State University. He is perhaps best known as the author of the 1988 book The Collapse of Complex Societies, which examines the dynamics and processes that lead civilizations to decay and unravel. This seminal work remains a key text for anyone seeking to comprehend how societies evolve, adapt, and sometimes catastrophically fail.
In his research, Joseph tackles big questions about civilizational sustainability, the ability to problem-solve, and the complex interplay of factors that allow civilizations to thrive or decline. His core argument is that as societies evolve to solve problems, they become more complex. This added complexity initially yields benefits and new capabilities, but over time it requires ever more resources to sustain itself, leading to diminishing returns. Eventually the costs of maintaining complexity overwhelm the benefits, setting the stage for collapse.
Joseph’s ability to analyze civilizations using an anthropological lens provides a unique vantage point for assessing our current global system.
◄ Episode Timestamps
(00:00:00) Defining complexity in societies - structure and organization
(00:05:25) The tradeoff between structure and organization
(00:06:54) Why inequality and heterogeneity are signs of a complex society
(00:08:15) Why collapse may not intrinsically be a catastrophe
(00:11:00) Every time history repeats, the cost goes up
(00:14:05) The diminishing returns of sociopolitical complexity
(00:17:06) Assessing our response to COVID-19
(00:22:20) The paradox of collectively investing in complexity
(00:26:30) Why energy subsidies delay civilizational collapse
(00:28:52) Modern existential risks
(00:30:55) What has changed about existential risk in recent decades years?
(00:37:00) Book recommendations for learning about civilizational collapse
(00:39:30) Explanation of Type One Planet
◄ Episode Topic Score
Culture (9)
Design (8)
Education (10)
Environment (5)
Science (6)
Technology (7)
◄ Additional Episode Resources
The Collapse of Complex Societies (Book): https://www.amazon.com/Collapse-Complex-Societies-Studies-Archaeology/dp/052138673X
The Great Wave (Book) : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Wave_(book)
Heat, Power, and Light (Book): https://www.amazon.com/Heat-Power-Light-Revolutions-Services/dp/1845426606
The Lessons of History (Book): https://www.amazon.com/Lessons-History-Will-Durant/dp/143914995X
◄ Engage with Type One Planet:
Website: www.typeoneplanet.net
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/typeoneplanet/
