Evidence of the Great Filter

In a civilization created at the heart of a desert, where only cicadas and coyotes constitute music, a different noise emanates from the sands. It’s a quiet noise, but for those listening, it quickly becomes obvious. It wasn’t the sound of society, or pestilence taking over these dunes. It was silence. A loud silence, indicating the collapse of a greater power that once was; a shadow cast upon the dunes that disappears with the setting sun. It started a few seasons prior, in the early autumn weather. On that day in particular it happened to be around 103 degrees, a sign that Mother Nature was showing mercy. The sun, however, was not so courteous, indiscriminately casting its justice over the entirety of that desert village. With about 100 people living in the commune together, food was scarce. Fortunately, a small discovery a few weeks prior of an oasis had solved the problem of thirst. However, with little food and brutal weather, survival was still uncertain for those settled. Trouble began at the second discovery of a nearby abandoned civilization. Economist Robin Hanson once wrote an essay pitching the idea of the universe containing a “Great Filter”; in summary, the hypothesis is that, in the development of life throughout the universe, there is a border hidden between the creation of intelligent organisms and the spread of that life to other planets, mysteriously preventing the long-term survival of these species. For our villagers, the discovery of another abandoned civilization was evidence of a great filter existing in their desert. At first, it would appear to obviously be the challenge of starvation acting as a filter; food was difficult to come by, so death via hunger didn’t seem too unreasonable. However, upon entering the abandoned village, curiously multiple stashes of non-perishable food were uncovered. Additionally, weapons that seemed excessively brutal for the occasional coyote or scorpion were also found at the site of this village. Whatever the reasons, one problem was solved that day in the collection of this miraculous food supply. However, one problem was also created that day in the discovery of this great filter, which had inserted itself between the survival of any unknowing desert villages. After spending the following weeks traversing back and distributing this food amongst their people, these concerns of hostility began ringing more and more frequently throughout the thoughts of those explorers. What could’ve ended the lives of the villagers? What were those destructive weapons used for? Despite the majority's decision to look forward and put aside the unsettling mysteries of the abandoned village, the feedback of those unanswered questions continued to sing through the ears of all those facing the music. No matter what followed: double the food supplies, more water sources, or even bigger weapons, our civilization was haunted by the fear that an unknown entity could lunge them toward extinction at any time. This village, once known as a deeply interconnected community, began to show signs of division from the pressure; comradery was replaced with treachery, and neighbors became enemies. Eventually, explorers set out to make a second trip to the abandoned society— not in hopes of collecting resources, but instead, obtaining closure. Upon arrival, the mood was excessively grim. The only positive element of this trip was that since winter arrived, temperatures throughout the desert had become slightly more bearable to the explorers’ condition. Nevertheless, the mood was bleak, and subtle movements were amplified by paranoia. Explorers noted that the abandoned village consisted of a few wooden structures resembling homes, a dilapidated outer wall, and worn shreds of fabric fashioned like tents. Additionally in the middle of this village was an old hollowed well, its bucket left at the bottom of the crater once responsible for holding water. The survey of these landmarks didn’t do much to soothe the worries of our explorers, so they began to look closer into the society. Every scratch and tear became significant until the next arbitrary symbol took its place. Maybe this building was too tall for its own good, attracting excessive wildlife that couldn’t be traced in the morning? Could it be that the food explorers recovered was poisonous? Each answer had an equally viable rebuttal, which would lead to more questions and more time wasted in this abandoned village. After minutes, hours, and days of inspection, the explorers were left with nothing. This realization inspired the team to pack up and return home with very little relief to soothe the anticipating masses. With spring coming soon and fear beginning to rise, our civilization fractured into two sides: those obsessed with what lurked in the desert and those opposed to even mentioning the unknown entity. This presence of a great filter had taken over our civilization, reaching the point where minor scuffles began breaking out between the two sides. Eventually, an agreement was reached— those concerned by the mysterious force were allowed weapons and refuge in the abandoned village, staking out that section of the desert as hunters awaiting their prey. Those unphased and irritated by the rumors would remain in the already-inhabited civilization, continuing their lives as if nothing ever happened. This compromise seemed to please everyone, and so the communities split into their respective belief system. In the abandoned civilization (which will for now on be known as Compound A) walls were rebuilt, with villagers taking up arms and stalking the empty sand for any sign of threats. In the original civilization (which will for now on be known as Compound B) villagers began working on finding new sources of food to transition from the recovered non-perishable supply. Weeks had passed until one night where something seemed off in Compound A; outside the walls a shadow lurked, approaching the village. Alarms rang, flocks of people scurried toward the entity, and with weapons in hand, slayed the unsuspecting beast. However, as the dust settled, the monster Compound A had dismantled revealed itself as one of the villagers from Compound B. News of this brutality spread throughout both villages and plans to retaliate immediately manifested themselves. Compound A chose to fortify their defenses while Compound B decided it was done being passive toward the barbaric decisions of their sister commune. It was a hot night in Compound A when an arrow cut through the air, piercing the skull of one of the watchmen. Both villages had suffered one casualty at this point; both villages were aware of what would follow each others’ actions at this point. A declaration of war had been instituted. Compound B struck first, using the night and fear to their advantage to disturb Compound A with various noises. Compound A would respond by utilizing surprise to their advantage to sneak up on the unsuspecting villagers of Compound B. Both sides were aware of the other’s weaknesses, and so drastic measures needed to be taken in order for an advantage to be obtained. It’s unclear which side was foolish enough to take the nuclear route, but one of the villagers decided that poisoning the oasis was the only way to achieve victory in this war. This was a gamble on the theory that the superior compound would find a solution before the other, however now that neither village was capable of drinking healthy water, numbers quickly diminished on each side. Corpses filled in piles like leaves in autumn, and anarchy swept through these compounds like a plague. Eventually, neither side was fit to sustain themselves, let alone engage in a war. The only motivation left for anyone was revenge or spite, and those were the emotions that led to the extinction of both compounds. Which brings us to today, the loud silence. Nothing remains, both villages empty, evidence of the Great Filter.