deklinationist

A deklinationist is a hypothetical individual or group who advocates for a deliberate and controlled decline or reduction in a society's or system's complexity, scale, or ambition. The term itself is not widely established in academic or common usage and appears to be a neologism.

The underlying philosophy of deklinationism might stem from various concerns. Some might argue that excessive growth, technological advancement, or societal complexity leads to negative consequences such as environmental degradation, social alienation, or systemic fragility. A deklinationist might propose a conscious effort to simplify processes, reduce resource consumption, or scale back ambitions in certain areas. This could manifest as a preference for localism over globalism, or a rejection of continuous economic growth as an inherent good.

Conversely, the concept could be interpreted as a pessimistic outlook, suggesting an inevitable decline and an attempt to manage its effects. It is important to distinguish deklinationism from simply advocating for conservation or sustainability, although there might be overlap. Deklinationism implies a proactive choice to reduce, rather than merely to preserve what exists or to grow more slowly. The specific goals and methods of a deklinationist would depend heavily on the context and the particular aspects of society or systems they wish to de-escalate.