If all life on Earth was destroyed except for one human survivor, the task of rebuilding society as we know it today would be an immense challenge. The individual would face numerous obstacles, and their success would largely depend on their knowledge, skills, resourcefulness, and adaptability. Here's a general outline of the steps they might take:
Immediate Survival: The first priority would be ensuring their own survival. They would need to find shelter, water, and food. If there are any preserved or canned goods available, that would be helpful.
Resource Scavenging: The survivor would scavenge for any useful items and tools from the remnants of the old civilization. This might include books, survival gear, canned food, batteries, and other supplies.
Learning and Skill Development: The survivor would need to educate themselves on a wide range of subjects, from basic survival skills to more advanced knowledge in agriculture, engineering, medicine, and other relevant fields. Books, if available, would be an invaluable resource.
Preserving Knowledge: They would try to preserve as much knowledge as possible for future generations. This could involve writing down information, drawing diagrams, and creating educational materials.
Agriculture: To ensure a stable food supply, the survivor would need to learn and implement basic farming techniques. They might start by collecting seeds from the remnants of crops or the wild.
Domestication of Animals: If any animals survived, the survivor might attempt to domesticate them for companionship, food, and assistance in agriculture.
Technology: As the survivor gains knowledge, they might try to redevelop some technologies, starting with basic tools and gradually progressing to more complex machinery.
Communication and Record Keeping: Rebuilding communication networks and recording information for future generations would be essential. This could involve creating basic forms of writing and developing methods for long-term information storage.
Community Building: As the survivor's knowledge and resources grow, they might start to seek out other survivors if any exist or even attempt to create a new community.
Governance and Ethics: As society grows, the survivor would need to address issues of governance, ethics, and justice. They might draw inspiration from the old world's concepts but adapt them to the new reality.
Science and Exploration: Encouraging scientific inquiry and exploration would be crucial for advancing knowledge and understanding the world.
It's essential to remember that rebuilding society from scratch is an incredibly challenging task, and it's unlikely that one person alone could recreate all aspects of the complex global civilization we have today. The process would take generations and would require the cooperation and efforts of many individuals. Additionally, the survivor would need a certain level of luck in finding usable resources and avoiding potential hazards, diseases, or injuries that could hinder their efforts.