Final answer:
The contemporary state of human societies may not be sustainable in the long term, as they have not been founded on principles of sustainable harmony within planetary limits. This can be seen in the reliance on fossil fuels and the concept of time-space compression.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is discussing the contemporary state of human societies with little or no time depth. This refers to the idea that modern human constructs have not stood the test of time and are unlikely to do so given that they have not been founded on principles of sustainable harmony within planetary limits. In other words, the current state of human societies may not be sustainable in the long term.
One example of this is the reliance on fossil fuels, which have only provided a substantial energy benefit for a very short period of time in the grand timeline of humanity. This short-term benefit has come at the expense of finite resources. It is uncertain if a technological society can be sustained without depleting or damaging the planet.
Additionally, the concept of time-space compression has impacted modern societies. This refers to how new technologies and media forms have penetrated deeper into everyday lives, creating a sense of time speeding up and a shrinking world.