The events of the past six months (fundamentally it is only one single event, the sudden emergence and spread of mass hysteria) is comparable to extinction-level events found in the natural world’s history. The difference between this one and those natural phenomena is that this mass hysteria is purely psychological, meaning it doesn’t exist in the physical world. It could be described a a psychic contagion, a virus of the imagination. I’m sure there’s a better way to describe it. But it is interesting that something so destructive could spread so quickly and have such a profound effect on the world economy. And an economy itself is a purely psychic phenomenon, in the sense that our plans, intentions, and predictions exist only in our minds. And those plans and actions are effected, and in turn effect, the plans and actions of others. Society itself is held together by this invisible network of minds, a network of ever-evolving decisions based on individual personal judgments about the present and future state of the world. It’s a strange abyss you find yourself in if you think too long about it.
So, is COVID hysteria destructive and pervasive enough to inflict a mortal wound on the modern world? Has it already? If it is, then I think it’s interesting and significant that the apocalyptic event to decimate our species doesn’t exist in the physical world. This may make little sense, as I’m only just now attempting to finally get this idea out of my head that has been swirling for months.
It’s very interesting that the one event to inflict so much devastation on the modern world in such a short amount of time is non-material, but very real nonetheless.
