https://www.reddit.com/r/SeriousConversation/comments/1iafrhg/everything_in_this_world_is_сyclical/
created by lecoeJLelenbk on 26/01/2025 at 14:23 UTC
27 upvotes, 8 top-level comments (showing 8)
Have you ever noticed how often events, phenomena, and processes in life repeat themselves? The world is designed in such a way that everything moves in circles. Day turns into night, seasons come and go, fashion from the past suddenly becomes trendy again, and lessons we fail to learn keep reappearing in our lives. Take nature, for example. In spring, everything comes to life; in summer, it reaches its peak; in autumn, it fades; and in winter, it rests. But we know with certainty that spring will come again, and this cycle will never stop. Isn’t it fascinating? It’s as if nature is reminding us that even after the darkest times, light will inevitably return.
What about history? How many times have we seen events repeat themselves? Wars, economic crises, cultural renaissances0all of these have happened before, just in different forms and with different players. But why does humanity continue to make the same mistakes over and over? Could it be that we still haven’t learned how to truly reflect on our past? Even our lives are cyclical. We are born, we grow, we reach the peak of our abilities, we age... and through us, life continues in our children and grandchildren. The cycle of family, traditions, and memories. Isn’t it incredible to realize that we are part of such a vast loop? But cycles can also be less obvious. Have you noticed how emotions and situations in your life tend to repeat? We meet similar people, face comparable challenges, and sometimes make the same mistakes. Is this mere coincidence, or is it an opportunity to reflect and change? Here’s the big question: can we break free from cyclical patterns, or are they an inevitable part of life? Perhaps not all cycles need to be broken-maybe we just need to learn how to navigate them. Cycles are everywhere, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Instead, they offer us chances to start over, try again, or find balance. Maybe, just maybe, the true meaning of life lies in these repetitions. What do you think? Could cycles be the key to understanding ourselves and the world around us?
Comment by ZenToan at 26/01/2025 at 15:06 UTC
29 upvotes, 2 direct replies
It's not exactly cycles, it's a more like a spiral. The same things don't repeat themselves, they change a little every time while they move towards a deeper permanent change.
The seasons may change but they are slowly moving towards the next ice age for example.
Everything that looks like a cycle is actually a spiral. And the interesting thing is always what that spiral is moving towards.
Comment by ICanHasBirthday at 26/01/2025 at 14:38 UTC
7 upvotes, 0 direct replies
If you haven't looked into the Strauss–Howe generational theory before, you should. This theory holds that history is cyclical, and several books are based on it. The most popular one I am aware of is *The Fourth Turning Is Here* by Neil Howe. It sounds like this book would speak to you.
Just so you know, however, some have issues with both the book and the theory. You should read or listen to some of the criticisms of the theory before getting too invested in the book.
Comment by OSadorn at 26/01/2025 at 15:09 UTC
5 upvotes, 2 direct replies
There is a saying that 'history will repeat itself', at least until the apparent lesson is learned. A few things have changed; we have a stronger system to help log these events (the internet, various wiki sites, social media) and, ideally, mitigate the ways they aversely affect people overall.
Though until enough people who want to change these patterns amass the systemic power required (political, social, economical, cultural) to make it happen, we'll be stuck enduring this ebb-and-flow, these waves.
That's my angle on it in short-form, though even that may be subject to change if something miraculous happens.
Comment by CivilSouldier at 26/01/2025 at 15:24 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
When we speak of revolution, its origin is in regard to completing a circle, like the spinning of a wheel.
We don’t need anymore revolution.
Do the same thing expecting different results IS cyclical.
We need revelation.
That every human alive is worried that their resources will one day run out.
And from that universal need comes all forms of benevolent and malevolent behaviors.
We then judge as good or bad
From the perspective of whatever team we have pledged allegiance to.
Pledge allegiance to humanity and compassion.
Because the human experience is a universally relatable one.
Cheers.
Comment by Bombay1234567890 at 26/01/2025 at 14:27 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
From the Wikipedia entry on Giambattista Vico:
Vico's intellectual *magnum opus*[1] is the book *Scienza Nuova*[2] or *New Science* (1725), which attempts a systematic organization of the humanities[3] as a single science that records and explains the historical cycles by which societies rise and fall.
1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masterpiece
2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scienza_Nuova
3: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanities
Comment by Tempus__Fuggit at 26/01/2025 at 20:33 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
In Hinduism, time is a fundamental element.
I've been making visualizations of time for a while, and the way we think of and imagine time is fundamental to a society. Religions often create their own calendar to distinguish themselves.
Comment by sussedmapominoes at 26/01/2025 at 23:10 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Lots of Eastern philosophy is based on the cyclical nature of life. If you haven't already, I'd recommend reading the Tao Te Ching and the Bhavagad Gita. The ancients thoroughly discuss this theory through symbolism and metaphor.
Comment by DanoDowntown at 27/01/2025 at 01:41 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I do believe there is an imperfectly cyclical nature to human events. I like the comments about a kind of compressed spiral.
I feel like this happens at both a micro/personal level and a macro/broader society and species/cultural level.
And there’s a song now stuck in my head that I’ve always liked. “History Repeating” by the Propellerheads.
It’s a great example of a stealthy pop song with a lot of profound things going on in it lyrically.
The word is about, there’s something evolving, Whatever may come, the world keeps revolving... They say the next big thing is here, That the revolution’s near, But to me it seems quite clear That’s it’s all just a little bit of history repeating. The newspapers shout a new style is growing, But it don’t know if it’s coming or going, There is fashion, there is fad Some is good, some is bad And the joke rather sad, That it’s all just a little bit of History repeating. And I’ve seen it before And I’ll see it again Yes I’ve seen it before Just little bits of history repeating Some people don’t dance, if they don’t know who’s singing, Why ask your head, it’s your hips that are swinging Life’s for us to enjoy Woman, man, girl and boy, Feel the pain, feel the joy Aside set the little bits of history repeating Just little bits of history repeating And I’ve seen it before And I’l see it again Yes I’ve seen it before Just little bits of history repeating
Source: LyricFind Songwriters: Alex Michael Gifford History Repeating lyrics © BMG Rights Management