To browse Academia. The paper explores the paradox of modern societies experiencing suffering and dissatisfaction despite material abundance. It examines the contrasting perspectives on progress versus decline when compared to simpler societies that may offer greater leisure and satisfaction. The discussion highlights the importance of developing social indicators to measure well-being across cultures, acknowledging the limitations of traditional economic metrics in capturing the quality of life.
Ultimately, it calls for a more nuanced understanding of affluence, encouraging open-mindedness regarding quality of life and alternative futures as societies navigate the complexities of wealth distribution and environmental sustainability.
South African Journal of Economics. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, At-Tajdid : jurnal pendidikan dan pemikiran Islam, Log in with Facebook Log in with Google.
Remember me on this computer. Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link. Need an account? Click here to sign up. One of the paradoxes of modem life is the persistence of suffering and geep dissatisfaction among people who enjoy an unparalleled abundance of material goods. The paradox is at least as old as our modem age. Ever since the benefits and costs of industrial technology became apparent, opinion has been divided over whether we are progressing or declining.
The debate grows particularly heated when we compare our civilization with the cultures of "primitive" or "simpler" peoples. At the optimistic extreme, we are seen as the beneficiaries of an upward development that has brought us from an era in which life was said to be "nasty, brutish, and short," into one of ease, affluence, and marvelous prospects for the future.
