>it is one of the worst things to have happened to humans.
Philosophy professor Edward Slingerland advances the opposite view that alcohol is one of the most important inventions for the development of human civilization.
From the Goodreads summary in his book [0]: [...] "In fact, intoxication helps solve a number of distinctively human challenges: enhancing creativity, alleviating stress, building trust, and pulling off the miracle of getting fiercely tribal primates to cooperate with strangers. Our desire to get drunk, along with the individual and social benefits provided by drunkenness, played a crucial role in sparking the rise of the first large-scale societies. We would not have civilization without intoxication."
I personally find myself happier without regular alcohol consumption, but there is a strong argument to be made that alcohol has played a positive role in the development of civilization.
Philosophy professor Edward Slingerland advances the opposite view that alcohol is one of the most important inventions for the development of human civilization.
From the Goodreads summary in his book [0]: [...] "In fact, intoxication helps solve a number of distinctively human challenges: enhancing creativity, alleviating stress, building trust, and pulling off the miracle of getting fiercely tribal primates to cooperate with strangers. Our desire to get drunk, along with the individual and social benefits provided by drunkenness, played a crucial role in sparking the rise of the first large-scale societies. We would not have civilization without intoxication."
I personally find myself happier without regular alcohol consumption, but there is a strong argument to be made that alcohol has played a positive role in the development of civilization.
[0] https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/55643282-drunk