There are hundreds of years of art already in the public domain and society is not “universally thriving?” Why would adding a couple more recent years change that?
The vast majority of the works have been created in the last 100 years. This is where the "intellect" of IP lies, and that's what's locked behind copyright. Opening these up would absolutely affect universally thriving.
You can't live modern life with knowledge as of 1900.
You can't live modern life with knowledge as of 1900.