I believe the available happiness research suggests that hardships for people now *feel* no different than the hardships of people years ago. During COVID times, I rolled my eyes at the young people who were literally depressed because they couldn't go to dance parties anymore. I said, "Seriously? Any idea what I had to suffer when I was your age? You're all utterly spoiled these days. You don't even know real suffering." But I was probably wrong. Happiness science says the suffering is real, no matter how relative it all looks.
Sure, I am not disputing that part of it. I do think suffering is very real to the sufferer, whether we're talking about humans or animals. My point is that we have been viewing suffering all wrong. Instead of running from it we should embrace it as a tool for personal growth.
I believe the available happiness research suggests that hardships for people now *feel* no different than the hardships of people years ago. During COVID times, I rolled my eyes at the young people who were literally depressed because they couldn't go to dance parties anymore. I said, "Seriously? Any idea what I had to suffer when I was your age? You're all utterly spoiled these days. You don't even know real suffering." But I was probably wrong. Happiness science says the suffering is real, no matter how relative it all looks.
Sure, I am not disputing that part of it. I do think suffering is very real to the sufferer, whether we're talking about humans or animals. My point is that we have been viewing suffering all wrong. Instead of running from it we should embrace it as a tool for personal growth.