Is civilization a disease?

This collection gathers a series of 1917 lectures presented at the University of California, where a scholar probes the moral ground of trade within the larger framework of civilization. Using the striking question ‘Is civilization a disease?’ the talks examine whether the coordinated systems of wealth and commerce uplift humanity or merely extend a deeper, possibly anti‑human principle. Listeners are invited to trace the historical shift from tribal barter to the modern market and to consider what ethical standards, if any, should guide that evolution.

The speaker balances historical insight with philosophical inquiry, questioning familiar assumptions about Christianity, universal love, and the apparent neutrality of business. By treating trade as a mirror of our social order, the essays challenge listeners to think about the true purpose of wealth, the limits of private monopoly, and the responsibilities of good citizenship. The result is a thoughtful, accessible meditation on the intersection of economics and morality, encouraging personal reflection without prescribing a single answer.