There is a well-known historical analysis of the fourteenth century written by Barbara Tuchman and entitled A Distant Mirror, which tells about a hard time in western civilization. Two major challenges were the Hundred Years' War, in which neither side had the force to achieve a clear victory, and the plague, which left few families untouched. According to Tuchman, in many quarters there was a pervading feeling that the catastrophes of the day—especially the plague—pointed to a deep, self-indulgent sinfulness, which was being punished on a tremendous scale.
Current discussions, protest demonstrations, and learned theses on the consequences of living in an age of possible thermonuclear conflict have raised similar concerns in the minds of many. But today the question of survival has assumed new dimensions, since current technological innovations portend the possibility that the human race could be utterly destroyed.
Some feel that mankind stands on the edge of a precipice, confronted with awesome decisions never before faced.
