I legit think civilization was probably a mistake (the industrial variety for sure, but probably all types, honestly). I'm having a hard time coming up with much in the way of benefits that aren't more than off-set by massive amounts of destruction and misery. Bill Hicks famously referred to humanity as "a virus with shoes." I don't think we're a virus, but I do think modern civilization is like one of these parasitic fungi that infect ants and make them engage in self-destructive behavior.