The great Greek philosopher and poet, Hesiod, divided human history into five ages: The Golden, Silver, Bronze, Heroic, and Iron Ages. The Golden Age was a time of peace and abundance, free from suffering and labor. However, as the ages progressed, human life gradually declined into corruption and hardship. The Silver Age, though still prosperous, was inferior to the Golden Age; its people lacked wisdom, failed to honor the gods and ended up being destroyed by Zeus. War first emerged in the Bronze Age. The Heroic Age, while wiser than the previous era, still existed unending conflict. Finally, the Iron Age is depicted as an era defined by relentless labor, suffering, and the peak of moral decay. Modern humanity lives at this very age.

  Humanity has advanced science and civilization in pursuit of a better life. Yet such progress has cast both light and shadow. The Industrial Revolution brought not only productivity and prosperity but also labor exploitation and human alienation. Scientific and technological advancements have made life more convenient, but they have also produced new forms of warfare. Through World War I, World War II, and countless other conflicts, we have already witnessed the devastating consequences of such developments. Nevertheless, why do we continue to repeat the same tragedies?

  The twenty-first century, shaped by the horrors of past wars, was expected to pursue peace. Reality, however, has betrayed those expectations. Once seen as an era that might bring an end to war, today’s world has instead been marked by renewed conflict—Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the war triggered by the U.S. and Israel’s airstrikes on Iran on Feb. 28, 2026. War can no longer be considered as merely a mistake of the past. Unlike before, people around the world now witness conflicts in real time through social media. I also have been shocked as I encountered images of soldiers killed in combat, children celebrating their birthdays without a trace of joy amid war, and collapsed elementary schools. Even unprecedented threats directed at rival nations lay bare the raw dimensions of human desire reflected in modern warfare.

  War is no longer a tragedy confined to the nations which are directly involved. In today’s highly interconnected global society, its repercussions spread across the world. Conflicts between countries have effects on other countries through energy supplies and economic systems. For example, Russia’s pipeline disruptions connected to Europe have caused severe shortages in Europe’s natural gas supply, while Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has driven up global oil prices, destabilizing the world economy. In this way, threats surrounding energy infrastructure and military retaliations are shaking international oil markets and financial systems alike. War has become a global crisis.

  Today’s international community pursues co-operation and co-existence yet simultaneously repeats cycles of conflict and confrontation. Within this paradoxical structure, war continues to reproduce itself. Beneath this repetition lies the accumulation of flawed choices of humanity. The modern era, alongside the spread of democracy, was expected to mark the end of war. However, economic instability, the erosion of the middle class, and the resulting political polarization have contributed to failures of leadership. The order and institutions built upon imprudent decisions and excessive desire, along with advanced science and civilization, now push individuals into anxiety and helplessness.

  Perhaps we are not merely living in the Iron Age but moving toward the end of an era itself. What follows may be something even worse and something that can no longer be described in terms of metal—an age of dust, after the collapse of all civilization, or the beginning of a new order.

  We already know the ruins and scars left behind by war, and how easily it can recur, no matter how prosperous our lives may seem. However, we continue to make the same choices again without sufficient reflection. Are we living in the Iron Age or in an age of dust?