In some ways, yes, the past was a terrible place. In other ways, the past was incomparably superior. Both of these things are true. Insisting on one or the other is to get trapped in the myth of progress (in which case, we assume we can learn nothing, and don't), or the myth of the golden age (in which case we get lost in nostalgia).
In other ways, the past was incomparably superior.
Both of these things are true. Insisting on one or the other is to get trapped in the myth of progress (in which case, we assume we can learn nothing, and don't), or the myth of the golden age (in which case we get lost in nostalgia).
In some ways, yes, the past was a terrible place.
In other ways, the past was incomparably superior.
Both of these things are true. Insisting on one or the other is to get trapped in the myth of progress (in which case, we assume we can learn nothing, and don't), or the myth of the golden age (in which case we get lost in nostalgia).