Since this is a big topic, I plan to write several posts about it. In case you’re wondering why I’m calling this post “Part 1”.
People talk about the “good old days”, and I’m reminded of a Billy Joel song called Keeping the Faith.
“… You know the good ole days weren’t always good
And tomorrow ain’t as bad as it seems…”
There are two related questions I want to explore.
- Is the world better or worse for humanity now (in 2024) than when I was a kid (in the early 1970’s)?
- Is my life better or worse now (in 2024) than when I was a kid (in the early 1970’s)?
The answer to each question is the same: It’s better and worse! In some ways, the world is better for humanity now than when I was a kid. In some ways, my life is better now than when I was a kid.
Both of these are questions that depend on your values. Everyone is going to have a different answer to these questions. Question #1 depends on your hopes and dreams for humanity.
Do you want humanity to consist mostly of blue-eyed white people with blonde hair? Do you want some humans to live on other planets, perhaps even those going around other stars?
Here are some things I want for humanity (not listed in any particular order). Note: This is not a complete list!
- More diversity
- Equal access to good air, water, food, healthcare, and education
- Sustainable growth
- Increased life expectancy
- Reduced conflict (including wars, murders, etc.)
- More exploration
- More opportunities for humans to do meaningful work
The question can be answered by looking at recent trends in these categories. Based on your values, the categories could be ranked in priority order and perhaps even weighted.
I plan to do this in “Part 2”.
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