On the existence of a civilization

"Civilization" doesn't exist in reality by default, a human civilization doesn't exist without humans, but that solely isn't enough - it requires a human to believe in it. Which makes the civilization an idea which perpetuate itself as a reinforcing action of the believer. And the aforementioned action might convince someone else to believe in the idea, once the motive/reason/meaning behind the action (the idea of "civilization") is explained and the motive is beneficial to the person hearing it.

"Civilization" is just a thought, a fantasy, a hope, it is a promise (if unfulfilled, it becomes a lie i.e. untrue, not real). It's a reward for delayed gratification, it's a trade off. A discipline. It rewards the ones that stop to think about it. Why? Because it is created for your benefit, and it can't exist without you. It's a symbiotic relationship if done right, it's an idea that actuates, realizes and manifests itself through an individual in/out to the material world. Though there is no meaning in the material world, a meaning is always assigned and interpreted by a perceiver with a mind - it is just a thought.