The Age of Sloth. How we and our children have lost the sense of effort

A new evil has stricken the fabric of our society: laziness. It divides generations, evaporates our willpower, and reduces us to mere biological creatures.

There is no longer any point in making an effort: technology takes over our tasks, while welfare states have deployed powerful safety nets for us. Furthermore, acquiring knowledge about the world seems pointless when we can access it with a single click. Video displaces reading, delivery replaces going out, and the screen substitutes face-to-face meetings. The duvet and the sofa have become the ultimate symbols of a carefree life. We no longer strive to belong to society; rather, society is expected to adapt to us. Narcissistic shamelessness and hypersensitivity are conquering new ground. We have lost the sense that things take time to materialize—and we demand everything instantly.

Developed nations are experiencing a severe civilizational breakdown. Our civilization was built upon effort, and all forms of progress stem from it. Yesterday, we had to overcome countless hardships in a harsh existence; could the absence of those constraints today carry terrifying consequences for us?