Monday 10 November 2014

Is the world getting better, or worse?

A few days ago, on Facebook, the following graphic caught my eye.
From http://www.businessinsider.com/the-world-is-becoming-a-better-place-2014-10#ixzz3HumR3IGy

Average life expectancy in England in 1843 was only 40 years. According to How the Mid-Victorians Worked, Ate and Died., those who survived being born, accidents & infections in the first five years of life lived to a ripe old age, despite no modern drugs or other medical technology.

This suggests that mortality between the ages of zero to five was ~50% back then. Yikes.

Click the link in the caption to see other ways in which the world has got better.

1 comment:

Galina L. said...

I personally think that world is getting better. Even without talking about advances in medicine, people pay more attention to clean air and water and to the preserving environment.
When I have some doubts while thinking about world getting better, it is usually for the reason that most improvements have a downside. Like advances in medicine often prolong end-of-life suffering, and more affordable food allows more people to be sick from food over-consumption, even though I think it is preferable to the under-nutrition.