I would say that psychologically it’s the addiction of power. We toe the line where “competition” creates the dopamine release of “being better than others.”
Yet for some that means it’s never enough. Richest person in the world? Need to take over government. Most powerful world leader? Need to assert myself even more.
I think the great filter often boils down to unnecessary competition. In the short term it leads to technological strides, but in the long term it becomes a species self-harm, and perhaps broader. A good theoretical example is
Every species that exists within that series is so focused on ensuring they have the most power that they will go out of their way to annihilate any other species due to the assumption that’s what all of them will do is seek more power. Ironically considering the scientific and technological capabilities of the involved parties, they may have been able to work together towards a better outcome than “anyone who isn’t me is my enemy” which is basically universal fascism.
I’ve been floating the idea that evolution is the ultimate culprit. Add intelligence to “most prolific, genetically” and get capitalism, then late stage capitalism in our technological age, and viola…
I’ve been told I’m insane, though, so take it with a grain of salt
I would say that psychologically it’s the addiction of power. We toe the line where “competition” creates the dopamine release of “being better than others.”
Yet for some that means it’s never enough. Richest person in the world? Need to take over government. Most powerful world leader? Need to assert myself even more.
I think the great filter often boils down to unnecessary competition. In the short term it leads to technological strides, but in the long term it becomes a species self-harm, and perhaps broader. A good theoretical example is
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_of_Earth’s_Past
Tap for spoiler
Every species that exists within that series is so focused on ensuring they have the most power that they will go out of their way to annihilate any other species due to the assumption that’s what all of them will do is seek more power. Ironically considering the scientific and technological capabilities of the involved parties, they may have been able to work together towards a better outcome than “anyone who isn’t me is my enemy” which is basically universal fascism.
I’ve been floating the idea that evolution is the ultimate culprit. Add intelligence to “most prolific, genetically” and get capitalism, then late stage capitalism in our technological age, and viola…
I’ve been told I’m insane, though, so take it with a grain of salt