I doubt time has ever been a plentiful resource for humans.

_dp9d · on Oct 17, 2016

Numerous studies have shown that hunter-gatherer societies only had to spend a few hours a day getting food and shelter.

The rest was leisure time.

throwawayReply · on Oct 17, 2016

But under those societies the world only supported a few million people.

dredmorbius · on Oct 17, 2016

Feature!

Under those societies it could. And there was little endogenous reason why that might suddenly change.

We've retained all the same exogenous risks, and added considerably more endogenous ones to boot.

gpvos · on Oct 17, 2016

Also, life was brutal and short.