On cosmic scales, time retains meaning but becomes profoundly relative and context-dependent.In general relativity, time is not absolute—it stretches near massive objects (gravitational time dilation) and nearly stops at event horizons. On the scale of the entire observable universe (93 billion light-years), cosmic time remains a useful coordinate: the universe has a well-defined age (13.8 billion years) measured from the Big Bang in the comoving frame.However, for distant galaxies receding faster than light due to expansion, no future causal connection is possible—making "now" for them meaningless from our perspective. At the heat death horizon (in ~10¹⁰⁰ years), thermodynamics may render meaningful time arrows impossible.So time still "exists" and matters, but its universal, shared significance fades dramatically at the largest scales. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmic_time https://wwwmpa.mpa-garching.mpg.de/~henk/pub/die.html
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Cultural output is not equal to soft power, but it is the most important foundation of it.Soft power = the ability to attract and persuade others without coercion. Cultural output (movies, music, language, lifestyle, values) is the main carrier that creates this attraction.However, cultural output alone does not automatically become soft power. It needs to be widely accepted, emotionally resonant, and associated with positive national image to truly convert into influence.In short: Cultural output = ammunition Soft power = actual combat effectivenesshttps://www.belfercenter.org/publication/soft-power https://carnegieendowment.org/posts/2018/02/chinas-soft-power-problems?lang=en
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Geography profoundly shapes civilizations by influencing agriculture, trade, technology, and social structures. Fertile river valleys like the Nile, Tigris-Euphrates, and Yellow River enabled early farming surpluses, leading to settled societies and complex hierarchies. Mountains and deserts acted as barriers, fostering isolation (e.g., independent Greek city-states) or protection, while coastlines promoted maritime trade and cultural exchange. As Jared Diamond argues in "Guns, Germs, and Steel," Eurasia's east-west axis facilitated crop and idea diffusion, accelerating development compared to north-south oriented continents. Climate and resources further dictate economic modes, from nomadic to urban. https://www.thecollector.com/geography-factor-in-civilization-success/
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