Loneliness can be described as a social abstinence, a feeling of discomfort or pain which tells us our need to connect with others is not being satisfied. This is a universal human experience, described in film and music and in texts ranging from The Old Testament through to contemporary literature.

Are there aspects of modern society which encourage loneliness or is it more of a constant aspect of human existence? Is there such a thing as good loneliness and bad loneliness? If so, perhaps modernity’s greatest problem with loneliness is not that there is too much of the bad, but rather too little of the good?