I haven't done a count on this but I am nonetheless certain that the great majority of subjects of the normblog profile who have answered the question 'Do you think the world (human civilization) has already passed its best point, or is that yet to come?' have answered it optimistically. The proportions rather surprise me. My own answer would be: I don't know - though, naturally, I hope the best is yet to come.
Anyway, folk of optimistic outlook might like to test their optimism against this piece by Bryan Appleyard. Here's a summary: the oil is running out; the rate of innovation is slowing; there are signs of institutional breakdown; globalization is failing; human nature is flawed and incorrigible; torture may be on the way to being regarded as more acceptable again; population growth is producing pollution; global warming may be approaching a point of no return; antibiotic drugs are failing through overuse so that 'People may soon be dying again from sore throats and minor cuts'. To put the lid on it:
[Previous doomsday predictions] were the product of faith; reason always used to say the world will continue. The point about the new apocalypse is that this situation has reversed. Now faith tells us we will be able to solve our problems; reason says we have no answers now and none are likely in the future.I don't draw this piece to your attention as making a persuasive case, but simply offer it for your consideration, especially if you're concerned about feeling too cheerful. I'm less well placed to form a judgement on some of the arguments than I am on others. I'll just say that where I felt better placed I found some of the argument open to question. You might like to sample what Appleyard says on institutional breakdown.