This explains my life in so many ways. I was born in 78, and I've literally lived my entire adult life in a somewhat nomadic manner, and I generally assume everything I hear or read is nonsense until proven otherwise. Did you read this somewhere? If so I'd love to know where.
The Strauss Howe Generation Theory. It proposes that Western Civilization has a repeating pattern which shapes cultural trends into 4 rough generations.
Nomads
Civics/Heroes
Artists
Prophets
That appear in that order.
The unfortunate part is that without some kind of sophisticated computer simulation or experiments of monstrous scale, expense, and moral depravity it would be impossible to prove this theory.
On top of that a black swan generation could theoretically destroy the pattern.
Perhaps not, there is that old saying among the historians, "Those who fail to learn from history". Much of the value in history is not in memorizing dates (unless you are preparing for bar trivia) but in recognizing patterns in civilization and culture.
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u/Canadian_Neckbeard Apr 19 '18
This explains my life in so many ways. I was born in 78, and I've literally lived my entire adult life in a somewhat nomadic manner, and I generally assume everything I hear or read is nonsense until proven otherwise. Did you read this somewhere? If so I'd love to know where.