Why rejecting the modern world is a privileged fantasy

Mark Boyle argues thata primitive life away from the modern world is healthier, but the evidence strongly suggests that this is a privileged fantasyRomanticising the past isa common human compulsion, and may well havepsychological benefits. But some people take it rather far, embracing millennia-old practices and lifestyles, like“paleo diets”, oralternative medicines based on “ancient wisdom”, and so on.Some even eschew as many of the trappings of modern life as possible. One such person is Mark Boyle, a man who rejects thingslike money,technology, electricity, etc, and is a much better person for it. Better than us, at any rate, judging by his books andregular Guardian columns. You might argue adopting an extreme back-to-nature lifestyle then crowing about it via a major website is slightly massively-hypocritical? You wouldn ’t be alone.Continue reading...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Science Psychology Environment Science and scepticism Source Type: news