Respectfully, I think if we’re going to zoom out that far it has to be said that on balance, things have never been better for humans. Barring a massive setback like nuclear war, I view our current set of difficulties as growing pains.
My favorite historian’s sum-up has long been that history is “a series of unintended consequences”.
I agree with you when it comes to human history and science development. The quip is aimed at Russian history specifically, and as with many jokes, you have to be attuned to what it jokes about to enjoy it (the different eras of suffering of common people in Russia and the turbulent changes that often lead to more suffering). It’s just a joke though, it doesn’t survive deep scrutiny.
Respectfully, I think if we’re going to zoom out that far it has to be said that on balance, things have never been better for humans. Barring a massive setback like nuclear war, I view our current set of difficulties as growing pains.
My favorite historian’s sum-up has long been that history is “a series of unintended consequences”.
I agree with you when it comes to human history and science development. The quip is aimed at Russian history specifically, and as with many jokes, you have to be attuned to what it jokes about to enjoy it (the different eras of suffering of common people in Russia and the turbulent changes that often lead to more suffering). It’s just a joke though, it doesn’t survive deep scrutiny.