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Does anyone think that the social advances of the recent centuries would have ever happened, if there was no death? If we had the same society with the same people with the same prejudices?

Womens rights. Democracy. Anti-racism. Religious tolerance. Gay rights. Environmentalism.

All of these would have never happened if had managed to kill "the dragon".

Death is not just suffering, its a critical part of the cycle of renewal. Author is nuts imo.

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To imagine we have to wait for the intolerant to die to have progress is just as nuts, and forces a passive view that no one should advocate for social change in their era...

I think they would have, yes. Both effects are occurring at the same time - younger people are more liberal, but also older people are getting more liberal over their lifespans.

And, in any case, if the price of longevity is slower social change, I'll take it!

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