although I also feel lucky to be born in this era and live where we live - I don't agree with all that you have said kingcliffy
"The big questions that humans have wondered about for millennia mean nothing to the average person. They aren't interested in knowing the answers. They don't care. What they do care about is so trivial and insignificant in the big picture of life. They know NOTHING! In fact most people don't think full stop. They don't want to think. But if you do want to think, there is an endless amount of wonderful things to think about. What science has now uncovered is truly amazing and wonderful.
Hundreds of years ago there wasn't much to think about. Where to get water. "
I don't know what the 'average' person thinks, but I do know this - when I was youngish - teens and early 20's there was loads of discussion on the big questions in life - that discussion also continued 20 to 30 years later when I attended Uni for 8 years.
I am sure that there are many who are shallow - but far from all.
As to "Hundreds of years ago there wasn't much to think about. "
Na, sorry, dreadfully incorrect there - try visiting parts of the silk road and seeing what was studied in mathematics and astronomy centuries ago. Also, how do you think the pyramids were built? - certainly not by non thinkers.
Go to TePapa museum in Wellington NZ and look closely at Maori boat-building - see technology they used hundreds of years ago ------------ lot of thinking went on there.
study the history of metallurgy, follow mankinds technological progress through the ages.
Look back before the Romans - try looking at the Celts ----
then tell me there wasn't much to think about.
All that is different now is the pace of change - in about 100 years from horse to rocketship - yep, that's quick - but it comes from hundreds of years of learning - and a hell of a lot of thinking - and lots to think about.
We have had great philosophers and scientists all through history - and before that, well, we don't know a lot about how and what people thought, but it is safe to say that they thought and pondered and they probably had fun as well - humans haven't changed that much.
Young people still sit around and discuss life and it's wonders ----------- if you don't realise this, maybe you are looking and listening in the wrong places.
