My mother (1941 born), went to work 15 years old to sustain her mother and two siblings. She worked 16 hour workdays, 10 hour factory job and the rest working on a farm for shelter and food. She worked hard up to her 60's, never complaining about anything being too hard. She raised three kids and still accomplished a lot.
Her generation had it even harder than these kids (many of their peers do!), while enduring hunger and scarcity.
Looking on today's spoiled western civilization - I really can't help but to feel that we have it too well. I mean - leisure really ain't something humanity has been built for.
I predict that this Chinese generation will, ultimately prove as more satisfied and fulfilled than the one in 50 years.
And 1941 was vastly removed from 1841. People were writing these EXACT same articles in western countries in the mid 19th century. Other people argued against them with exactly the same argument you just made, along with many others just like the ones in these threads. Nobody in countries that have long since passed this part of their history would say we would have been better off if not for those damn sweatshop busting muckrackers.
>I mean - leisure really ain't something humanity has been built for.
Actually, it's thought that pre-agricultural humans had quite a bit of leisure time. It was agriculture and civilization that forced people to work longer hours.
Her generation had it even harder than these kids (many of their peers do!), while enduring hunger and scarcity.
Looking on today's spoiled western civilization - I really can't help but to feel that we have it too well. I mean - leisure really ain't something humanity has been built for.
I predict that this Chinese generation will, ultimately prove as more satisfied and fulfilled than the one in 50 years.