So cruel! But still a great time to be alive

Is this a day to count our blessings? Agony of course. Tears, buckets of them. Yet England will be back. And the bigger picture is arguably brighter than it has been for more than a century.

First, football.

The commentators this morning agree. It is a wonderful thing that England are at that level again, perhaps for the first time since 1970. And, for many, it feels like we could get back here again over the next few years. So let’s enjoy, and believe in the process.

Second, the bigger picture. Civilisation is around 6,000 years old. But it is during the last 100 years that progress really took off. From electricity to refrigeration, air travel and the internet, technology has created a world unrecognisable to anyone alive in 1921.

A world in which the average person lives a longer and healthier life. More people than ever have been lifted out of poverty, more mothers survive childbirth – and violent deaths have fallen decade on decade.

Humanity is also better educated and enjoys more freedom and rights than ever before. Over half the world’s population lives in a democracy and literacy has reached historic levels. Societies still struggle with inequality and injustice, but women and minorities have won more representation and legal protection than at any other point in history.

The Covid-19 pandemic has devastated millions of lives and is not over yet. But unlike previous pandemics, society did not collapse and medical science found a vaccine in record-breaking time. Faced with a catastrophe, humanity is better prepared to respond.

And there are signs that the world is finally taking on the challenge of climate change. For years, scientists have warned that we are moving too slowly or going in the wrong direction. But green energy is now cheaper than coal, a tipping point that suggests the move away from fossil fuels is speeding up.

Writer Matt Haig says: “The most intense times often lead to the most growth.” And as the World Bank predicts the strongest economic recovery in 80 years, many are seeing the pandemic and climate change as opportunities to radically rebuild society.

In our lifetime, gene-editing and biotechnology will revolutionise medicine. Current research includes the world’s first bionic eyeNeuroengineers in Spain are working on a camera that transmits electronic signals directly into the brain’s visual cortex. and a way to reprogram our cells to extend life far beyond its natural limit.

In the 20th Century, the washing machine and other labour-saving devices freed millions from the drudgery of domestic labour. This century, artificial intelligence is expected to do the same for the world of work and make our lives safer and more efficient.

Futurists Tony Seba and James Arbib say all this change takes us to the cusp of a new “Age of Freedom”, where we will have replaced scarcity with abundance. A world where we will have to “rethink” what it means to be human. No longer defined by our physical strength or mental ability, we will spend more time with friends and family in search of happiness.

There may even be time for more football.

So, is this a good day to count our blessings?

Monday blues

Some say no, things have never been worse. If we delude ourselves, we will stop trying to solve our problems. We have no right to be happy when climate change is causing wildfires and flooding, over a billion people still live in authoritarian regimes and thousands die every day from preventable diseases. As usual, optimists put too much trust in technology and ignore the risks.

Others say yes, we’ve never had it so good. The news is full of depressing stories, but the bigger picture shows that society is steadily getting better. Pessimism is a self-fulfilling prophecy that makes us feel overwhelmed and less likely to act. Instead, we need to follow the advice of England manager Gareth Southgate: a positive attitude creates opportunities and makes success more likely.

Keywords

Refrigeration – The African-American inventor Frederick McKinley Jones created the first portable refrigerator. It was used to transport drugs and blood during World War Two.

Poverty – The state of being very poor.

Violent deaths – Steven Pinker argues we have entered a “Long Peace” with fewer murders and less deadly wars, though his argument has been described as “wishful thinking”.

Women – Men can also be witches, but they are more commonly known as wizards.

Previous pandemics – The Plague of Justinian devastated the remains of the Roman Empire while the Black Death in the 14th Century brought an end to feudalism in Europe.

Better prepared – Bill Gates says “global cooperation” brought the pandemic “under control” and this should make us more hopeful about solving climate change.

Green energy – In less than a decade, the cost of large-scale solar power has fallen by over 85% and onshore wind has fallen by almost 56%.

Bionic eye – Neuroengineers in Spain are working on a camera that transmits electronic signals directly into the brain’s visual cortex.

Extend life – In the United States, scientists have managed to extend the life of worms by 500%.

Artificial Intelligence – Artificial intelligence, or “AI,” is the ability for a computer to think and learn. With AI, computers can perform tasks that are typically done by people, including processing language, problem-solving, and learning.