The Myth of the Golden Age

It is common, if not universal, to hold a view that "things were better back then"... with differences between people as to the "things" and the "then". One may hold this view in regard to one's own past, or to some particular historical period, or to a general, sweeping, undefined past.

This is, of course, nothing new. The term "Golden Age" comes from classical Greece, as certain persons from that society lamented the difficulties of modern life and yearned for a better, simpler, and purer life that (surely) came before.

Of course, the cynic notes, there never was a Golden Age, and the realist chimes in that the esteemed past might not be held up so high if we knew (or remembered) what it was truly like.

The history of civilization is a history of change, with some pushing forward, some pulling backward, others struggling to resist any movement, and many more just along for the ride. All of these groups might be contained in one society, setting their conflicting interests against one another, or, if there is a frontier, these different groups can pursue their divergent goals in a space big enough for all. Life will be hard, in any case, and it will not be a Golden Age, but of the two options, many would much rather see the latter.