A new book by Deaton (not read yet) suggests that things are, on the whole, getting better. Of course, that is too general to mean much. After all, it ignores distributional issues and it also glosses over the idea that 'goodness' may comprise a number of distinct features (or 'variables'). So, whilst there may be progress for some, along some dimensions, say, it is not clear why that should translate into 'overall betterness' unless one explicitly discusses how we weigh up or aggregate.
But on nutrition and life expectancy it does seem that there have been significant gains in some regions. Also, when it comes to political systems it seems there have been real gains with the growth of democracy and the decline of totalitarian and/or communist regimes. As for freedoms, it would also be fairly uncontroversial to say that when it comes to gender and religion there is more freedom. And if one takes a longer view it is hard to ignore the role of the welfare state and social democracy in promoting a more humane society. In terms of accessibility to education, again, one has to be cautiously optimistic (the old idea of education being reserved for the elites, the leisurely class) hardly appeals to anyone.
I suppose the question looks quite different if one thinks only about what's been happening over the last thirty years (growing inequalities, the invasion of the market into more and more realms of society). Tony Judt's Ill Fares the Land and David Marquand's Decline of the Public are indispensable guides in this regard.
Also, I'm less optimistic than others when it comes to the net.
Here's Jackie Ashley with a great (but disturbing) article:
"But the bigger and better answer is to fight back in the real world against our exploitative and deeply sexist sexual culture. The internet, as all women commentators know, is rancid with idiot sexism and braying misogyny...
The whole article can be accessed here.
But on nutrition and life expectancy it does seem that there have been significant gains in some regions. Also, when it comes to political systems it seems there have been real gains with the growth of democracy and the decline of totalitarian and/or communist regimes. As for freedoms, it would also be fairly uncontroversial to say that when it comes to gender and religion there is more freedom. And if one takes a longer view it is hard to ignore the role of the welfare state and social democracy in promoting a more humane society. In terms of accessibility to education, again, one has to be cautiously optimistic (the old idea of education being reserved for the elites, the leisurely class) hardly appeals to anyone.
I suppose the question looks quite different if one thinks only about what's been happening over the last thirty years (growing inequalities, the invasion of the market into more and more realms of society). Tony Judt's Ill Fares the Land and David Marquand's Decline of the Public are indispensable guides in this regard.
Also, I'm less optimistic than others when it comes to the net.
Here's Jackie Ashley with a great (but disturbing) article:
"But the bigger and better answer is to fight back in the real world against our exploitative and deeply sexist sexual culture. The internet, as all women commentators know, is rancid with idiot sexism and braying misogyny...
Remember, not long ago, when this was a cornucopia of democratic wonders, a new way of bringing the best information and entertainment to the billions. It was going to usher in a new enlightenment, break open the old structures of universities and tycoon-driven media empires. It was going to democratise entertainment and give political activists all the information they had struggled to get before.
And now? It's all about predatory paedophiles and a rising panic over the sexualisation of children. Has there ever been as fast a shrivelling? What does it say about western humanity in the 21st century?"
The whole article can be accessed here.
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