The Paradox of Progress
The very networks and systems that elevate civilisations simultaneously breed their vulnerabilities. As societies develop complex trade routes, dense cities, and sophisticated hierarchies, they unwittingly create ideal conditions for pathogens—both biological and societal—to evolve alongside them. Each advancement carves pathways for novel threats to emerge and spread.
The most resilient structures are not those that resist change but those that anticipate their own exploitation. What we often perceive as "golden ages" may simply be periods before the parasites have evolved to match the host. When decline follows prosperity, it is not merely coincidence but the natural consequence of success creating the architecture of its own subversion.
True innovation, then, lies not in building impenetrable systems, but in designing adaptable ones that can withstand their inevitable parasites while preserving their core functions.