I would think it in a less linear and more cyclical process. That we have pushed ideas and models to their breaking points, then new ideas take the lead, as the older one recede. Which does go tot he relationship between youth and age, but from a more objective relationship, than the singular, linear process.

Not really disagreeing, because it has been an overall evolution, just the underlaying dynamic is explanatory as well.

It's not like actual individuals don't end up being infantilized by our social and economic cocoons, rather than being constantly tried and tested by an unforgiving world.

We've become smaller parts of a larger world.