Civilization depends on economy, but the economy is blind to this relationship.
José Ortega y Gasset, working to get The General Theory’s Spanish translation, put it in 1930:
Civilization is not simply here, it is not self-sustaining. It is artificial, and demands an artist or artisan. If you want to enjoy the advantages of civilization, but are not concerned with sustaining civilization— well, you are done. In the blink of an eye you find yourself without civilization. Just a slip, and when you look around everything has vanished into thin air!
Advertisements
