Comments on: Why the World is Actually Getting Better http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2009/10/28/why-the-world-is-actually-getting-better/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:53:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: H. K. Eide http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2009/10/28/why-the-world-is-actually-getting-better/comment-page-1/#comment-1109195 H. K. Eide Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:09:14 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/?p=1119#comment-1109195 I hate to be the pessimist here, but I am. Though you may be right that wealth has grown as much as it has the reason is quite simple cheap available energy. Which will end in a relatively short time. None of the progress you are talking about would have been possible without 2 things - fossil-fuel and rape-of-nature. In the western world we spend 10 calories to create 1 (because of high energy demand in food production). Fish is getting to be a scarce resource without enough control (50% of fishing outside Norway is illegal). There is this picture I got a few years ago about a pond with 1 waterlily. Lets say it takes 30 days before the pond is stuffed with waterlilies. On day 29 only half the pond is full and everything seems fine! Actually never has more lilies been happy growing in this pond. They have enough space, food everything seems well. I hate to be the pessimist here, but I am.

Though you may be right that wealth has grown as much as it has the reason is quite simple cheap available energy. Which will end in a relatively short time.

None of the progress you are talking about would have been possible without 2 things – fossil-fuel and rape-of-nature.

In the western world we spend 10 calories to create 1 (because of high energy demand in food production).

Fish is getting to be a scarce resource without enough control (50% of fishing outside Norway is illegal).

There is this picture I got a few years ago about a pond with 1 waterlily. Lets say it takes 30 days before the pond is stuffed with waterlilies. On day 29 only half the pond is full and everything seems fine! Actually never has more lilies been happy growing in this pond. They have enough space, food everything seems well.

]]> By: Cynicism is Easy, Optimism Takes Guts | Strengthening Ourselves http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2009/10/28/why-the-world-is-actually-getting-better/comment-page-1/#comment-1029689 Cynicism is Easy, Optimism Takes Guts | Strengthening Ourselves Sat, 24 Sep 2011 17:32:58 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/?p=1119#comment-1029689 [...] Just about every way you can measure, the world is a better place today than it was before. Life expectancy is up, poverty down, even most environmental indicators aside from greenhouse [...] [...] Just about every way you can measure, the world is a better place today than it was before. Life expectancy is up, poverty down, even most environmental indicators aside from greenhouse [...]

]]> By: Jesse http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2009/10/28/why-the-world-is-actually-getting-better/comment-page-1/#comment-973566 Jesse Sun, 28 Aug 2011 19:47:24 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/?p=1119#comment-973566 @ Scott Cogswell "Your next course is to discover the foundational principles that dintinctly drive human progress in the manner outlined in The Progress Paradox, those being Judeo and Christian monotheism, and capitalism." OK.. that is hilarious..Religion has fought progress throughout history.. fought against science, against rights for minorities & women..etc etc.. I think the world is getting better because the world is become more secular and educated..and are progressing past religion. If you want to truly get a good idea of what Christianity can do for humanity go back to when Christians were at the height of their power..http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inquisition @ Scott Cogswell “Your next course is to discover the foundational principles that dintinctly drive human progress in the manner outlined in The Progress Paradox, those being Judeo and Christian monotheism, and capitalism.”

OK.. that is hilarious..Religion has fought progress throughout history.. fought against science, against rights for minorities & women..etc etc.. I think the world is getting better because the world is become more secular and educated..and are progressing past religion.

If you want to truly get a good idea of what Christianity can do for humanity go back to when Christians were at the height of their power..http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inquisition

]]> By: Cynicism is Easy, Optimism Takes Guts | KMSciences http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2009/10/28/why-the-world-is-actually-getting-better/comment-page-1/#comment-973360 Cynicism is Easy, Optimism Takes Guts | KMSciences Sun, 28 Aug 2011 16:38:51 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/?p=1119#comment-973360 [...] about every way you can measure, the world is a better place today than it was before. Life expectancy is up, poverty down, even most environmental indicators aside from greenhouse [...] [...] about every way you can measure, the world is a better place today than it was before. Life expectancy is up, poverty down, even most environmental indicators aside from greenhouse [...]

]]> By: Cynicism is Easy, Optimism Takes Guts « Scott H Young http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2009/10/28/why-the-world-is-actually-getting-better/comment-page-1/#comment-967196 Cynicism is Easy, Optimism Takes Guts « Scott H Young Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:42:22 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/?p=1119#comment-967196 [...] about every way you can measure, the world is a better place today than it was before. Life expectancy is up, poverty down, even most environmental indicators aside from greenhouse [...] [...] about every way you can measure, the world is a better place today than it was before. Life expectancy is up, poverty down, even most environmental indicators aside from greenhouse [...]

]]> By: Debbie Lorion http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2009/10/28/why-the-world-is-actually-getting-better/comment-page-1/#comment-785690 Debbie Lorion Wed, 11 May 2011 03:47:20 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/?p=1119#comment-785690 It is good to be positive and try to look for the good things. I agree with that. It is also good to not turn a blind eye to the areas that are much worse than they have ever been, even just 40 years ago. Shouldn't we speak truthfully about areas that need work, in order to bring about positive changes. Younger generations don't know what they are missing. Yes they can be entertained with big screen T.V.'s and computer games, but that does not compare to interacting with human beings. Unfortunately many more children today do not have the love and security of the family unit, with both a mother and father living at home. One final observation regarding how society has changed for the worse. Forty years ago, if a baby were born early and the mother didn't plan to have that baby, it would be put up for adoption. It would not have mattered that she may intended to have an abortion, if the baby were born alive it would have been rushed to in incubator, no matter what the mother may say. Back then a baby had rights to be treated as a human being when it was born. Today, If a woman wants a late term abortion, and the baby happens to survive, and come into this world breathing, it is just left to die. What kind of a society can approve of such treatment of the most innocent and helpless of all human beings? If there were no other reason than this, I would have to say the world is not a better place today. It is good to be positive and try to look for the good things. I agree with that. It is also good to not turn a blind eye to the areas that are much worse than they have ever been, even just 40 years ago. Shouldn’t we speak truthfully about areas that need work, in order to bring about positive changes.

Younger generations don’t know what they are missing. Yes they can be entertained with big screen T.V.’s and computer games, but that does not compare to interacting with human beings. Unfortunately many more children today do not have the love and security of the family unit, with both a mother and father living at home. One final observation regarding how society has changed for the worse. Forty years ago, if a baby were born early and the mother didn’t plan to have that baby, it would be put up for adoption. It would not have mattered that she may intended to have an abortion, if the baby were born alive it would have been rushed to in incubator, no matter what the mother may say. Back then a baby had rights to be treated as a human being when it was born.

Today, If a woman wants a late term abortion, and the baby happens to survive, and come into this world breathing, it is just left to die. What kind of a society can approve of such treatment of the most innocent and helpless of all human beings? If there were no other reason than this, I would have to say the world is not a better place today.

]]> By: Troy Carkeek http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2009/10/28/why-the-world-is-actually-getting-better/comment-page-1/#comment-777387 Troy Carkeek Tue, 03 May 2011 20:45:31 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/?p=1119#comment-777387 Facinating! such a simple concept that has so much truth in it - but the majority are so opposed to. We have been conditioned to focus on sufferring because it sells news - the media loves negativity and doomsday advertising! Personally I am ready to accept the beauty of this world - There are so many amazing caring people doing courageous caring things for each other all the time - I want to focus on them. Whatever you put your attention to - becomes bigger. If you want flowers to grow in your garden stop watering the weeds! Thanks Scott - a little bit of positivity out there in the world can go a very long way Facinating! such a simple concept that has so much truth in it – but the majority are so opposed to. We have been conditioned to focus on sufferring because it sells news – the media loves negativity and doomsday advertising! Personally I am ready to accept the beauty of this world – There are so many amazing caring people doing courageous caring things for each other all the time – I want to focus on them.
Whatever you put your attention to – becomes bigger.
If you want flowers to grow in your garden stop watering the weeds!
Thanks Scott – a little bit of positivity out there in the world can go a very long way

]]> By: Geologi & Kreationism: Den yttersta tiden | Asebeia http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2009/10/28/why-the-world-is-actually-getting-better/comment-page-1/#comment-581596 Geologi & Kreationism: Den yttersta tiden | Asebeia Sat, 25 Dec 2010 15:41:52 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/?p=1119#comment-581596 [...] längre nu än någonsin. Ingen påstår att världen är perfekt – men den är faktiskt bättre på de flesta sätt än den någonsin har varit. Allt annat är grundlöst okunnigt önsketänkande och [...] [...] längre nu än någonsin. Ingen påstår att världen är perfekt – men den är faktiskt bättre på de flesta sätt än den någonsin har varit. Allt annat är grundlöst okunnigt önsketänkande och [...]

]]> By: Scott Young http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2009/10/28/why-the-world-is-actually-getting-better/comment-page-1/#comment-461765 Scott Young Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:25:17 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/?p=1119#comment-461765 steven, If you believe the world is better than 100 years ago, that's almost certainly more true that it is better than 1000 years ago. Your statement that everyone was happy and poverty did not exist are false--murder, wars, slavery, famine, illiteracy and religious persecution were all much higher in those times. If you desire the simplicity and community spirit of villages of yesterday, move to a small town in a developed country and be glad you're born in the 21st century. my 2 cents. -Scott steven,

If you believe the world is better than 100 years ago, that’s almost certainly more true that it is better than 1000 years ago. Your statement that everyone was happy and poverty did not exist are false–murder, wars, slavery, famine, illiteracy and religious persecution were all much higher in those times.

If you desire the simplicity and community spirit of villages of yesterday, move to a small town in a developed country and be glad you’re born in the 21st century.

my 2 cents.

-Scott

]]> By: steven http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2009/10/28/why-the-world-is-actually-getting-better/comment-page-1/#comment-461490 steven Wed, 01 Sep 2010 01:46:37 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/?p=1119#comment-461490 I never thought of it that way. If you think of 100 years ago compared to now, sure the world is becoming better. But I was always thinking of the world long ago when everyone lived in little villages and all worked together to get there food and water etc. Everyone back then was happy and healthy and there was very little poverty. Right now we think having computers and movies and all is really fun and cant give it up, but if we never had them then wouldn't racing someone be just as fun? What do you think about this? Is the world better now than it was thousands of years ago when people lived in small villages? I never thought of it that way. If you think of 100 years ago compared to now, sure the world is becoming better.
But I was always thinking of the world long ago when everyone lived in little villages and all worked together to get there food and water etc.
Everyone back then was happy and healthy and there was very little poverty.
Right now we think having computers and movies and all is really fun and cant give it up, but if we never had them then wouldn’t racing someone be just as fun?
What do you think about this?
Is the world better now than it was thousands of years ago when people lived in small villages?

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