The concept of retirement was conceived of when, as you suggest, the working class could not afford savings while being destined for incapacitation from decades of hard labor. What was normally a family upkeep of tending to an elderly loved on was converted to a social cost.

Now, hoewever, most people work sedentary jobs with plenty of opportunity to aim for a life of retirement if they do please. Most do not. Is this society’s fault that employees don’t contribute to their 401(k)s until they are in their thirties?

To counter your point, a truly civilized society leads to greater individual responsibility for the self and for others. That doesn’t happen when things like healthcare and social security are planned for you using 80-year old blueprints.