[csallen]

> Modern humans live in what would have been historically viewed as a Utopia.

I think about this all the time, and how tragic (comedic?) it is that humanity finally created a Utopian age but most of its inhabitants are ignorant of that fact, and thus don't appreciate it, and instead genuinely believe they live in one of the worst times ever.

[qweiopqweiop]

Great point. I'd argue though, is it a utopia if we're not as happy?

[JPKab]

We are unhappy BECAUSE it's a utopia, and our brains evolved in a landscape that was ALWAYS trying to kill us. Like an immune system in an overly clean environment starts attacking inert things and creates allergies, our minds have created threats and focused on "relative" scarcity over actual scarcity. Instead of "How am I going to get enough calories to survive this week?" it's "Why does that guy get to be in a private jet and I have to fly coach?"

[littlexsparkee]

Have you considered that rather than people being ignorant, not everyone lives this average experience, or that some portion of this increase in wellbeing creates collateral damage and those that experience it don't have the same rosy view?