Preliminary Remarks: During the 1970's and early 1980's, the principal teaching responsibilities of Professor Espey were classes in environmental studies. The classes in this program were designed specifically for students at an undergraduate liberal arts institution like Trinity University. In addition to an introductory course in environmental studies, Professor Espey taught complete courses on the topics of world population issues, environmental ethics, monitoring environmental pollution, energy and the environment, environmental concepts in the classical literature, and advanced topics in environmental studies. Such a variety of courses required him to read substantial volumes of literature outside of the academic discipline of biology. In the interest of organizing his own thoughts about environmental issues, he spent a period of seven years writing this essay "On the Destiny of Civilized Cultures". The various conclusions within the essay are based on some 160 references that are cited a total of 309 times within the text. The essay underwent ten major revisions in the seven years during which it was written--yet, it still is not complete. This endeavor was inspired in part by the innumerable questions that were raised by students in the environmental studies program at Trinity University, and in part by Professor Espey's determination to have a better understanding of the future of mankind. The main purpose in writing the essay was to establish his own thoughts on the matter, rather than to persuade others toward his way of thinking. Nevertheless, in the event you happen to have an inclination to examine this document, you can access it by clicking here on the essay.