> When, in all of recorded history, has this not been humanity’s sole purpose?
First, by specifying recorded history, you introduce a bias: technology itself is responsible for the ability to record history. Second, there are oral and even written descriptions of tribes who do not have this as their sole purpose. As described in the book "An American Indian Mind in a Linear World" and many others, some tribes focused on relationships to the world rather than the-world-as-a-resource.
In some times, technological development was not the focus of humanity, such as in these tribes where a constant level of basic technology was maintained.
There is simply no reason to believe that the endless development of technology is necessary, especially since there are counterexamples to sustainable societies that don't require endless technological growth.
First, by specifying recorded history, you introduce a bias: technology itself is responsible for the ability to record history. Second, there are oral and even written descriptions of tribes who do not have this as their sole purpose. As described in the book "An American Indian Mind in a Linear World" and many others, some tribes focused on relationships to the world rather than the-world-as-a-resource.
In some times, technological development was not the focus of humanity, such as in these tribes where a constant level of basic technology was maintained.
There is simply no reason to believe that the endless development of technology is necessary, especially since there are counterexamples to sustainable societies that don't require endless technological growth.