Outpaced by Ourselves: Has Human Civilisation Grown Beyond Its Control?
I. Introduction: The Paradox of Progress Civilisation has never been more advanced. We possess global communication networks, artificial intelligence, space-faring technologies, and the ability to sequence the genome of life. And yet, at the height of our capability, we seem increasingly unable to manage the very systems we’ve built. Political institutions are gridlocked, inequality is deepening, ecosystems are unraveling, and many individuals report feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and disconnected. The question arises: Have we created a civilisation too complex for humans to govern — either collectively through institutions or individually through autonomy? ...