It worked so far because our desire to grow never before threatened to exceed the carrying capacity of the whole planet. Growth is not stopped by people, but by environmental boundaries. So far the cost of failure was never the near-extinction of humanity. When civilizations exceed the carrying capacity of their environment, the results aren't pretty.
Civilizational collapse is real. It has happened many times to flourishing cultures and might happen again. Most cultures never recover*. The difference is that previously there was always another culture that was not pulled into the abyss as well and could pick up the leftovers.
Civilizational collapse is real. It has happened many times to flourishing cultures and might happen again. Most cultures never recover*. The difference is that previously there was always another culture that was not pulled into the abyss as well and could pick up the leftovers.