Why Humanity is Stuck on Level 1

Let’s be real: as advanced as we like to think we are, humanity is still embarrassingly undercivilized. Sure, we’ve got skyscrapers, rockets, and AI, but when it comes to working together as a species, we’re closer to chimps than the advanced civilizations we dream of becoming. The truth is, we’re stuck on Level 1—barely scraping by on the Kardashev Scale.

 The Kardashev Scale

The Kardashev Scale is a method of measuring civilization’s level of technological advancement based on its ability to harness and utilize energy. It was proposed by Soviet astrophysicist Nikolai Kardashev in 1964 as a way to assess the progress of civilizations in the universe. The Kardashev scale is often used in discussions about humanity’s potential future and why we haven’t encountered alien civilizations. It highlights how far we’ve come–but also how far we still have to go to become an advanced civilizations capable of thriving beyond our planet.

For context, a Level 1 civilization can harness all the energy on its planet (we’re still getting there). A Level 3 civilization, on the other hand, controls the energy of an entire galaxy. They’re the ones we imagine when we think of aliens: unified, advanced, and probably laughing at how messy we are down here.

So, why are we still stuck on Level 1? It’s simple. We’re too busy fighting each other to make real progress. Think about it: countries spend trillions on military budgets while climate change threatens the planet, inequality skyrockets, and diseases persist. Instead of pooling resources to solve these global problems, we’re locked in the same destructive cycles as ancient empires. The only difference? Today’s gladiators are soldiers, politicians, and social media trolls. 

Take the space race as an example. During the Cold War, we went to the Moon—not as a unified species, but as competitors in a geopolitical struggle. Now, space exploration is driven by private companies and billionaires vying for dominance. Imagine what we could achieve if we treated it as a global effort instead of a competition. Colonizing Mars? Harnessing solar energy from space? Those aren’t dreams—they’re possibilities if we stop acting like rival factions and start working together.

It’s humbling to admit that we’re not much different from chimps. Like chimps, we form tribes, fight for dominance, and prioritize short-term survival over long-term goals. Meanwhile, a Level 3 civilization—if one exists—would likely look at us and wonder why we’re still stuck in this primitive mindset. They’d see cooperation as the obvious path forward, while we continue to hoard resources and argue over borders.

The truth is, we’re not stuck because we lack intelligence or resources. We’re stuck because we haven’t evolved socially. Our mindset is outdated. Technology has outpaced our ability to work together, and that gap is holding us back. If we stopped thinking like Romans and started acting like a unified species, we could solve the biggest challenges we face today. Climate change? Reversible. Global hunger? Solvable. Harnessing the energy of the sun? Absolutely doable. 

The real question isn’t whether humanity can reach Level 2 or 3. It’s whether we’re willing to let go of the habits that are holding us back—habits rooted in division, fear, and greed. The sooner we stop competing and start collaborating, the sooner we’ll become the civilization we like to pretend we already are.

Until then, we’re just chimps with Wi-Fi, dreaming of galaxies we may never reach.