The 21st Century Condition.

It seems like we are constantly bombarded with health related news telling us that modern people are, in general, far more depressed than they were in years gone by. We have made such advances in the fields of science (be it astronomy, medicine, technology or others), yet we seem to be regressing in terms of our mood. Logic would dictate that that the more we understood, the better we would be able to achieve this magic ideal of happiness. It seems as though the opposite is true.

However, one must not be quick to see cause and effect when, in reality, the explanations probably lie elsewhere. The increase of our understanding does not necessarily result in diminished happiness. I see other things at work here.

One factor of modern life that I believe needs to accept some of the responsibility is the entertainment industry: mostly movies and TV. While I completely appreciate the role these media outlets play in escapism or pushing boundaries they have had a massive impact on 21st century culture. Think about it. The current generation (myself, I hate to admit, included) have become so accustomed to the narratives of TV shows and the movies that we have subconsciously come to expect the outcomes of those narratives. While, of course, on a conscious level we are aware that the movie we are sitting in front of is not reality, and that it's all just a bit of fun, we are actually becoming conditioned. In the vast majority of movies (and most character based TV shows), the main character ends up with the person of his/her dreams. They get the dream job they've been chasing. They finally have that baby they've been trying for. They have a touching reunion with an estranged family member. It all works out because it just does.

Subconsciously, the current generation (and most likely all subsequent generations) have become conditioned by the idea that things will just work out for them. Everyone is the lead role in their own life. No one thinks of themselves as the supporting cast, so everyone believes that things should work out for them. Just because.

This is what makes 21st century life as difficult and as depressing as it is to some people. No, we don't have to worry about smallpox or try to appease a deity because some crops are not doing well. We are not burning suspected witches. We have advanced so much, but our perception of our own lives has become so distorted that we are becoming more depressed. If life doesn't turn out exactly as we hope, we feel cheated. We are owed our happy ending. So when the person of our dreams falls in love with someone else, it hurts us. Not only because we have lost someone we so deeply want, but because the happy ending that is rightfully ours has been taken away. What makes it worse is that the person of our dreams is probably thinking that their new interest was the romantic lead in their movie, whereas you are (at best) a supporting cast member.

Our perception of life has become so warped by the narratives that surround us that we are probably the most depressed generation of humans to have existed. I would love to say that being aware of this can help fight against it, but sadly our conditioning is now so deep that it cannot be helped with rational thought. Life is hard and some people are going to be miserable and alone. No wonder we take such comfort from movie narratives when being a good person is enough to make things work out. The cruel irony is that this escapism is making our sense of disappointment and despair all the more poignant.

The Importance of Skepticism.

There are a number of subjects that come up in everyday conversation that seem to boil down to familiar arguments. One of the most common that I have come across is the fatuous argument that something is to be believed because it cannot be disproved. No, I am not going to go explicitly into the subject of religion again this time but it is the main offender with regard to this argument. Other offenders are things like 'alternative' medicine, astrology, faith healers, alien visitors to Earth, psychics, ghosts, auras and the power of prayer. There are more examples I am sure. The problem with the "well you can't disprove it!" argument that is so often used in defense of these propositions is the idea that the burden of proof is on those who claim not to believe in such nonsense. That is entirely backwards.

The burden of proof does not lie with the skeptic. Skepticism is vital to human progression and our understanding of the life, the world, and the universe. Skepticism is questioning ideas and propositions that have to be taken on faith. The idea that you should believe something because it cannot be disproved is ludicrous and frankly childish. If I were to claim that I have an invisible pet unicorn, what would be your reaction? Would it be "well I cannot disprove his claim so I'll believe it" or would it be "that is ridiculous, please give me a reason why I should believe such a claim"? Any thinking person with any intellectual integrity would take the latter option. It is people taking that latter option that has led to the development of the human species. Skepticism has led to breakthroughs in medicine, evolutionary biology, physics, technology, and mathematics to name a few.

These propositions persist through the ages, so that must give them some credibility, right? Wrong. As long as humans have existed, stupid humans have existed, and as long as stupid humans have existed, people willing to exploit their stupidity have existed. This is why junk pseudo-science sticks around. Nobody seems to point out that alternative medicine that has been scientifically tested and proved to be effective has become medicine. It gets prescribed by doctors who have a rich knowledge and education. Homeopathy, on the other hand, has never been proved to be any more effective than a placebo. Who in their right mind would choose unproved superstition over proven medicine as their first choice to deal with their health? Only those whose faculty for skepticism is severely impaired.

It is the same with astrology. While this is admittedly harmless and, for most people, just a bit of fun it has roots in the same problem. It only survives through the suspension of the critical faculties of the brain and taking things on faith. No one who believes in it has any problem with the fact that the zodiac was completed before some of the planets in our solar system had been discovered. For something that is dependent on the position of planets I would say that the fact that it has not changed since the discovery of new planets is a serious problem.

My point is that the burden of proof does not lie with the skeptic. I feel no need to try to disprove any of these propositions. There is simply not enough evidence to support them. It baffles me that so many people do not take this attitude. Operating in certainty is something I cannot comprehend. Skepticism and asking questions are therefore, in my opinion, vital to human existence and progress. It is why I have a question mark tattooed on my skin. Without this capacity we, as a species, could very easily have joined the 99.8% of species who have ever populated this planet in extinction.