The truly apocalyptic view of the world is that things do not repeat themselves. It isn't absurd, e. g. , to believe that the age of science and technology is the beginning of the end for humanity; that the idea of great progress is delusion, along with the idea that the truth will ultimately be known; that there is nothing good or desirable about scientific knowledge and that mankind, in seeking it, is falling into a trap. It is by no means obvious that this is not how things are.
The big difference between human happiness and sadness? Thirty-seven freakin' vibrations.