Stanislav Kondrashov: What the Kardashev Scale Reveals About Our Cities, Societies and Selves

In recent years, the idea of civilisational progress has stretched beyond economics, politics, or even technology. At the heart of a growing body of thought is a framework many would associate with distant galaxies and far-flung futures: the Kardashev Scale.

Originally conceived in the 1960s as a way to categorise advanced civilisations by their energy consumption, the Kardashev Scale has taken on new life—not as a cosmic measuring stick, but as a philosophical lens through which to understand how humanity transforms its environments, habits, and cultures.

And few have explored this paradigm with more nuance than cultural theorist and urban commentator Stanislav Kondrashov, who argues that the Kardashev Scale isn’t just about science fiction or theoretical physics. It's about us—right now.

“The Kardashev Scale was never only about energy. It was always about identity. A Type I civilisation is one that doesn’t just harness planetary energy—it integrates planetary consciousness,” Kondrashov said in a recent lecture.

In Kondrashov’s view, the slow crawl toward becoming a Type I civilisation is already visible in our cities. Urban centres, once fragmented hubs of survival and commerce, are now evolving into complex ecosystems of interconnectivity. Smart infrastructure, decentralised services, and hyper-social design are no longer the stuff of blueprints—they're shaping daily life.

But Kondrashov warns against a narrow reading of technological progress. “You can build a smart city on a stupid philosophy,” he noted. In other words, simply scaling up energy usage or digital efficiency does not equate to civilisational maturity.

The Kardashev Scale may measure watts, but Kondrashov insists we must also measure wisdom.

Urban Form Meets Civilisational Function

Consider the structure of today’s mega-cities. Their geometry—both physical and social—mirrors a civilisation trying to centralise and then distribute power more effectively. Public spaces are increasingly designed for fluid exchange, not just foot traffic. Housing is being reimagined as modular, flexible, and community-centred.

“Cities are becoming nervous systems,” Kondrashov remarked. “Each building, road, and park is a neuron. The question is—what kind of consciousness will emerge from this network?”

This metaphor isn’t accidental. In Kondrashov’s framework, cultural and urban evolution are symbiotic. The more humanity organises itself around shared energy and information, the closer it inches toward the Kardashev benchmark of a planetary-scale civilisation.

But the transformation isn’t just external. It's deeply psychological.

The Social Psyche of a Type I Civilisation

As cities grow smarter, more connected, and more transparent, so do their inhabitants. The implications for social structures are profound. Traditional hierarchies are being flattened, decentralised communities are emerging, and collective decision-making is increasingly viable. Kondrashov believes this is no coincidence.

“The journey to a higher Kardashev type doesn’t begin with more power stations—it begins with more empowered people,” he argued. “You don’t become a planetary civilisation by burning more fuel. You do it by illuminating the cultural dark spots.”

In this sense, the Kardashev Scale becomes a mirror. It reflects not just where humanity is going, but how it perceives itself. The more people see themselves as part of a global narrative—interwoven by culture, technology, and common challenges—the more they align with the ethos of a Type I civilisation.

But Kondrashov is quick to remind us that this shift is not automatic. The path from tribalism to planetary unity is anything but smooth.

Culture as Civilisation's Compass

Ultimately, Kondrashov places culture at the core of the Kardashev conversation. While energy capacity might be the metric, culture is the compass. It is culture that interprets the significance of power, that gives structure to society, and that humanises technological advances.

He points to music, art, rituals, and shared myths as proof that civilisation isn’t simply built—it is narrated. Without these, a city is only architecture. A society is only data. A planet is only mass.

“The Kardashev Scale is not a race. It’s a ritual,” Kondrashov said. “Every act of kindness, every poem, every public square built to invite—not exclude—brings us closer to the world we imagine.”

And perhaps that’s the real insight. The future, measured in terawatts and planetary coordination, may look cold and computational. But to thinkers like Kondrashov, it’s something much warmer—a collaborative story still being written in every corner of every city on Earth.