• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Are we better off in the 21c compared to 19c?

Are we better off in the 21c compared to 19c?

  • Yes, much better

    Votes: 35 76.1%
  • Yes, slightly better

    Votes: 3 6.5%
  • No change

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • No, slightly worse

    Votes: 1 2.2%
  • No, much worse

    Votes: 5 10.9%
  • I can't make up my mind

    Votes: 1 2.2%
  • Other

    Votes: 1 2.2%

  • Total voters
    46

Canell

Banned
DP Veteran
Joined
Mar 7, 2011
Messages
3,851
Reaction score
1,170
Location
EUSSR
Gender
Male
Political Leaning
Libertarian
Are we better off in the 21-th century compared to 19-th century, what do you think? :)
 
Question needs a little narrowing down I think.

Better is VERY subjective.

BETTER THAN WHO? LESLIE FISH

Better than who? (better than who)
The scores aren't in. (the scores aren't in)
Let the gods of evolution say who'll win.
Better at what? (better at what)
In what way? (in what way)
Let the gods of evolution have their say.

I'm better than you at shooting,
You're better than me with a knife.
Who's to say which tool works better when the punks come for your life?
You're better than me at karate,
I'm better than you with a stick.
Do you really want to walk through the slums tonight, let the old gods take their pick?

I'm better at breathing pollution,
You're better at avoiding colds.
Which of us will last the longer in the worst the future holds?
You're better at surviving bug bites,
I'm better at eating junk.
If civilization sinks tomorrow, which of us would be sunk?

I'm better at training horses,
You're better at fixing cars.
Which will be in more demand at the next turn of the stars?
You're better at hunting rabbits,
I'm better at making fire.
Which of those skills can better fulfill what tomorrow might require?

I'm better at growing gardens,
You're better at counting cash.
Which will serve us best tomorrow, the money or the stash?
You're better at working computers,
I'm better at making a song.
Which will put more food on the table if the world goes right or wrong?

You're better at playing dominance,
I'm better at making friends.
What works better, whether or not civilization ends?
Nobody knows the future,
Or what skill betters the odds.
So it's best to say we're all born equal and leave the rest to the gods.

Let the gods of evolution have their say


More lyrics: Leslie Fish Lyrics
 
Questions like this always seem like trick questions. We're definitely better off in this century than people were in the past.
 
Of course we are...by virtually any reasonable metric you can think of. And it doesn't even really matter who "we" are...it's true of the rich, the middle-class, the poor, men, and women. And with the possible exception of a few active warzones, it's true virtually everywhere on earth, from North America to South Asia to Sub-Saharan Africa.
 
i would argue that we are.

we have access to safer food, the ability to travel, and modern medical technology. plus, the internet is pretty kickass.
 
Questions like this always seem like trick questions. We're definitely better off in this century than people were in the past.

Not necessarily. Religious people might think otherwise, for example they may not like GMO, porn, gay marriage, fashion, etc. A libertarian might argue in terms of liberty and so on.
 
Not necessarily. Religious people might think otherwise, for example they may not like GMO, porn, gay marriage, fashion, etc.

I doubt there are very many religious people who think porn is more important than antibiotics, vaccines, mass communication, universal literacy, automobiles, and 80-year lifespans.
 
I doubt there are very many religious people who think porn is more important than antibiotics, vaccines, mass communication, universal literacy, automobiles, and 80-year lifespans.

Not if believe in end times, perhaps. :2razz:
 
Simple answer.

**** yes, it's not even close.
 
Not necessarily. Religious people might think otherwise, for example they may not like GMO, porn, gay marriage, fashion, etc. A libertarian might argue in terms of liberty and so on.

But considering everything, they'd have to admit we're better off in terms of technology, etc.
 
But considering everything, they'd have to admit we're better off in terms of technology, etc.

Well yeah, I guess they will have to. But how would you persuade them we are better off like people?
 
The average person has significantly more opportunity to live a happy and secure life than they did two centuries ago. Whether or not they take full advantage of that is entirely up to them. But I do not believe we can measure 'better' in more accurate terms than opportunity.

That said, our search for purpose has certainly shifted. Where previously more effort was needed to satisfy basic life needs and today, for example world-wide we grow enough food to feed every person on earth 2700 calories a day. Basic needs are much more plentifully supplied and in this way, life quality in general is better. However, with the extra time, people may feel lost as to what they can do with their life - what purpose do they have? Philosophically, our life has become more difficult in trying to fill these answers in a meaningful way. A majority of the population feels like the "middle children of history" ~Tyler Durden, as we tie up loose ends of energy consumption, feeding the poor, etc. But I wouldn't measure 'better' by these philosophical terms. These questions existed just the same previously, so we're not any worse off simply because we have more time to focus on these questions.
 
What happened to the 20th century? Two centuries ago we were in the middle of the war of 1812.
 
No offense but this kind of a silly post. In the 19th century (1801-18999) we have simple diseasess with no cure. High infant mortality, earlier deaths, no working standards or safeguards, child labor, massive numbers of sweat shops, rampant racism (beyond that which we see today) in all sectors of society. Social casting, etc etc etc.
 
Well yeah, I guess they will have to. But how would you persuade them we are better off like people?

In a religious sense they'd likely disagree that, considering every single thing, we're "better off." I think you ought to modify your post a bit to differentiate between "better off spiritually, morally, technologically, and financially." That breaks it down a bit so that people can more easily answer your question.
 
While I can't speak for anyone else on this forum ,I know that in the 19th C I would most likely have been a slave for the almost the first 2/3rds of that century and probably a poor sharecropper like my great great grandfather in the latter third of that century instead of the successful restaurntuer that I am today.And I'm willing to hazard a guess that not only would my wife not be a surgeon who is allowed to vote,but we probably wouldn't have been allowed to marry each other back then because I'm a dark skinned creole and she's a cajun.
So at least for me and my wife we are definately better off in this century than in prior ones.
 
In a religious sense they'd likely disagree that, considering every single thing, we're "better off."

Did the size of the church/etc stop growing? No. Most religions and denominations, even the smaller ones, consider themselves more widespread and effective than ever. Only religions that do not seek universality might see their local or personal situations as "worse".
 
Yes. Much better in all things... except music, taste in clothes (meh... I guess it has its good and bad) and proper manners and civility.

Other than those things, yes we are much, much better off in most of the other important aspects of life.
 
Did the size of the church/etc stop growing? No. Most religions and denominations, even the smaller ones, consider themselves more widespread and effective than ever. Only religions that do not seek universality might see their local or personal situations as "worse".

Materials, size, and money should mean nothing, and instead the religion itself should be upheld the most by the believers. Many have gotten lost in their pride/focus over number of churches or vastness of wealth... while forgetting the essence of their religion. I'll agree with you that those religions who are individually different, like Pentecostalism, may think the world is worse off from a moral/religious perspective.
 
Materials, size, and money should mean nothing, and instead the religion itself should be upheld the most by the believers. Many have gotten lost in their pride/focus over number of churches or vastness of wealth... while forgetting the essence of their religion. I'll agree with you that those religions who are individually different, like Pentecostalism, may think the world is worse off from a moral/religious perspective.

Pretty much all Christian denominations seek universality. And they are all pleased that their denomination has spread throughout the world in the modern era. As far as the essence of their religion, not so much my business, but I know they are happy to have expanded and preached the Word throughout the world and opened churches in many countries.

Religious freedom has expanded. In many places, people are now free to worship as they see fit. Anyone whose religion was oppressed must think today is better.

There are many reasons for a denomination or church to believe that today is better than yesterday. From more people saved to religious freedom and other issues. The only way that a religion or denomination is "worse off today" is by evaluation of human morality by narrow-minded (and perfectionist) pessimism. The "people are crappier today" holds as much water in religion as any other group, that being - none. People have always been plenty crappy, from a religious or other viewpoint, and today is not so different.
 
Questions like this always seem like trick questions. We're definitely better off in this century than people were in the past.
Only in materialism and medicine. But that century's active and proud attitude created all our present benefits.
 
I was better off when I was just a gleam in my father's eye. So, the answer for me is no.
 
Are we better off in the 21-th century compared to 19-th century, what do you think? :)

People who think of asking questions like these should first ask themselves what was the 19th century like before asking that kind of question.
 
Back
Top Bottom