SOCECOL E8 Lecture Notes - Lecture 17: Niall Ferguson, Drakes Bay
26 May 2016
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Document Summary
The readings for objective two begin with the study guide to collapse. The focus within the study guide to collapse are the case studies on the easter island (chapter 2, pp. 526-539), and chapter 14: why do some societies make disastrous decisions? pp. The study guide identifies the elements which are key to the midterm question. Diamond"s notion of disastrous values is particularly important as he explains them from pages 432 to 434. There are several quotes which present the essence of what he is trying to convey: The modern world provides us with abundant secular examples of admirable values to which we cling under conditions where those values no longer make sense. p. 432. It is painfully difficult to decide whether to abandon some of one"s core values when they seem to be becoming, incompatible with survival. At what point to we as individuals prefer to die than to compromise and live? p. 433.
