January 1 2020, 12:01am,The Times

Pessimism about the future is a recurring theme of political thought yet the world has never been a better or wealthier place

In every age, pessimism has its sophisticated exponents. Friedrich Nietzsche wrote in 1895 that this progress is merely a modern idea, that is to say a false idea. In reality, even the history of the following century, despite two terrible world wars, refuted this dictum. Now, with 20 years of the 21st century having elapsed, it bears repeating that there has never been a better time to be alive.

Certainly there are global problems, such as climate change, international tensions and the risk of nuclear proliferation to autocratic states. Domestic politics has been convulsed by the issue of Brexit since 2016 and the task of finding a new place for Britain in the international trading system remains to be worked out. But on almost every

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The Times view on human welfare and the future: Getting Better - The Times