WE CAN THINK of human history in the way cosmologists think of the history of the cosmos. Much is learned about the present state of affairs by observing past events. In cosmology, of course, this is achieved by peering deeply into space because looking deeply amounts to looking back in time.
And so it is with human life, where it is helpful to look into events of the deeply distant past for clues as to why things became as they are today.
With whichever culture, in whatever region, the first records recorded by humanity, for others to remember, were burial tributes and monuments for elite personages.
This implies that human civilization emerged, and may have been reinforced ever since, by dwelling upon grievous loss, with those cultures growing the most being the ones that experienced the most grief.
By contrast, in today’s world, quality of life is frequently measured in terms of happiness.
Have we notice any cultural decay, lately..? Maybe it’s from too much happiness.
Thwarticus 