The Civilization of Pleasure

"Every generation worries about the direction of civilization?declining birth rates, social fragmentation, and the apparent retreat from sacrifice and duty. Yet these changes may not simply reflect moral decline, but rather the consequence of a civilization extraordinarily successful at what humans have always sought: reducing suffering, increasing pleasure, and making life more secure. When survival becomes easier, purpose must be chosen. Having raised the floor of suffering higher than any previous generation, we face the next great question: What, exactly, are we willing to suffer for?"