What is meant by Will Durant’s statement “Civilization exist by Geologic consent?
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Answer:
This is beautiful and contains great wisdom. Will Durant also discusses geology and civilization in chapter one of Our Oriental Heritage (volume one of his magisterial Story of Civilization). Here he says: “Civilization is an interlude between ice ages: at any time the current of glaciation may rise again, cover with ice and stone the works of man, and reduce life to some narrow segment of the earth. Or the demon of earthquake, by whose leave we build cities, may shrug his shoulders and consume us indifferently.”
light of the devastation in Japan. Certainly with this, Nature has shown us the fragility of man and his civilization.
I recommend to your attention Durant’s Lessons of History. In it he sums up in 100 pages what he learned over forty years of writing the eleven volume Story of Civilization. Lessons is one of the most profound books I have ever had the pleasure of reading.
Many writers have turned to Durant of late when writing of the natural disaster in Japan. They attribute to him: “Civilization exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice.” I believe the quote is likely not authentic. Perhaps it is a very nice paraphrase of the quotes above. During the past twenty five years I have spent many pleasurable evenings with the writings of Will Durant. This quote seems to lack the elegance of his style in my humble opinion. It’s like a Roman copy of a Greek statue—it captures the essence but not the grace.* Thank you to Mike Church for bringing the controversial authorship of this quote to my attention.
