The Paradox of Progress
The world has become safer, and yet many still live with a precivilizational attitude towards life
The world has undeniably transformed into a safer and more enjoyable place with remarkable progress shaping every aspect of modern life.
More people are living longer than ever before, with global life expectancy rising substantially.
The typical citizen today is wealthier than anyone else at any other point in history.
And the modern world overflows with novelty and entertainment enriching lives in ways past generations would find unimaginable.
Yet, a striking paradox persists: many believe the world is more dangerous and violent than ever.
Which is understandable.
In humanity’s primordial beginnings survival was a constant struggle with environmental threats far outnumbering available resources.
Early humans also posed significant dangers to one another, waging wars and capturing others for pride or as trophies.
This evolutionary backdrop has left a lingering precivilizational mentality reinforced by frequent depictions of violence on TV and in the news.
Which has made it difficult for some to fully accept the peace and prosperity ushered in by modern systems like capitalism.
To bridge this gap society must renew it’s faith in our ability to uplift one another by changing our attitudes and institutions.
Education systems, for instance, should prioritize instilling merited confidence in our collective future. And they should do so by emphasizing our shared historical progress over our petty fears about civilizational collapse.
Likewise discontentment should be welcomed and viewed as a catalyst for entrepreneurial, philosophical, and political innovation.
And most importantly humanity should embrace the benefits of capitalism—such as economic growth, technological advancements, and improved living standards—so people can properly align their historical attitudes with the realities of a safer, more prosperous world.
With this progress, societal joy may flourish as abundantly as the material advancements driven by the world's innovators and great thinkers.
Zigmund Reichenbach has an M.A. in Philosophy from West Chester University and works as a professional advocate for less government. You can help him combat bad ideas in politics and philosophy by donating to his work athttps://ko-fi.com/zigmundreichenbach .
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