THREE: THE COMMON SENSE OF PROGRESS
1 the Disillusionment About Progress
There is a growing skepticism among intellectuals about the idea of progress, which was once seen as a sign of sophistication. While many people still hope for continual progress, thinkers often question its existence and desirability. This skepticism emerged as a reaction to oversimplified views that equate progress with positive change, ignoring that not all changes are beneficial. However, it's important to recognize that civilization is linked to progress, and without the forces that drive it, much of what makes us human would struggle to survive. The history of civilization demonstrates significant advancements in a relatively short time, yet human instincts have not adapted fully to modern life, leading to challenges that arise from this rapid transition.
2 Progress and Improvement
Progress involves moving towards a known goal in personal or organized efforts, but social evolution is different. It cannot be viewed as a straightforward advance because it is a complex process of development in human understanding. This process entails adapting, learning, and shifting values and desires. The nature of progress includes discovering the unknown, making its outcomes unpredictable. While we can gain some understanding of the forces driving this growth, we cannot predict specific outcomes or follow rigid rules for evolution.
In science, even when knowledge is pursued deliberately, the consequences of discoveries are often uncertain. Attempting to focus science solely on useful knowledge may hinder real progress. Although progress allows society to strive toward goals, the results might not always lead to increased satisfaction. Progress does not necessarily mean that the new state of affairs is better than the previous one, and it’s difficult to determine if we would be happier if we stopped our development at earlier stages.
What truly matters is the ongoing pursuit of what seems achievable at any moment, rather than the outcomes of past successes. A rapidly advancing society is generally happier and allows more individuals to experience upward movement. Progress leads to new knowledge that benefits society progressively, but it often takes time for insights to become widely accessible. Many continue to benefit from advancements before they reach the broader community, as new achievements require adaptation and development to be fully realized.
3 Progress and Inequality
Rapid economic progress often depends on inequality; advancements do not happen uniformly but in stages. This means that some people are ahead of others, which allows society to gain knowledge and improve living standards. Knowledge helps us effectively use resources for different purposes, leading to new products and services that benefit everyone. While material resources are limited, knowledge can be shared freely, allowing society to advance collectively.
Initially, new goods are often luxuries for a few before they become necessary for the broader population. Wealthy individuals spend on these luxuries, enabling experimentation that eventually leads to cheaper production for all. Over time, features like cars and refrigerators become accessible to the average person because they were first produced for those with higher incomes.
Moreover, advancements made by those with more resources pave the way for future developments, expanding options for everyone. The process of progress benefits from the experiences of early adopters, as innovations might never reach the masses if they had to be available to everyone from the start. In this way, even the poorest today benefit from the outcomes of past inequalities.
4 Experiments in Living
In a progressive society, wealth and opportunities are unevenly distributed, leading to a relative concept of poverty. The desires of individuals often stem from wanting what others have, but society does not guarantee equal satisfaction of these desires. Instead, it encourages effort through competition. Some believe that the rich experiment with new lifestyles, facilitating progress that ultimately benefits the poor, although this idea may seem cynical. In a planned economy, individuals need to test innovations before they become available to everyone, much like in free societies where the market naturally determines who leads. However, this could result in inequalities based on authority rather than chance. There is no clear measure for the ideal level of inequality, but as long as progress is continuous and all social strata are represented, those at lower levels benefit from advancements made by those ahead. The belief that leading individuals take away from others is misguided, as overall progress benefits everyone in the long term.
5 International Aspects
Discussing equality becomes clearer when looking at the differences between rich and poor countries rather than focusing only on local communities. The wealth gap between the West and poorer nations is largely due to the West's better use of knowledge and capital. While poorer countries have the potential to catch up faster than the West did, this advancement has been aided by the West's ability to progress without needing to distribute its wealth evenly. Wealthier nations tend to share their technological knowledge, allowing poorer countries to grow at a lower cost. This dynamic means that while some countries can benefit from the advancements made elsewhere, their growth may be reliant on others’ innovations. Countries that attempt to eliminate wealth differences may lose their competitive edge, as shown by Great Britain's decline in global leadership.
6 Redistribution and the Speed of Progress
Inequalities, both internationally and within a nation, can help everyone progress. In a community with wealth, individuals are better positioned to advance because they benefit from the resources and knowledge of the rich. Initially, those who are affluent may progress faster, but over time, those who start behind can catch up, leading to overall advancement. However, while redistributing wealth from the rich to the poor might seem beneficial in the short term, it can ultimately slow overall progress. Recent experiences in Europe show that societies implementing strict egalitarian policies often become stagnant, while competitive countries flourish. In advanced societies, recognizing that allowing some to advance is crucial for everyone's improvement can be challenging, but progress depends on removing barriers to success for all individuals.
7 Material Progress and the Other Values
Material progress in advanced countries often comes with concerns about its pace and focus on material gains. In times of rapid economic growth, artistic and intellectual achievements tend to decline. However, as people achieve a better economic condition, they may start to value non-material aspects of life more. Despite these advancements, many individuals might not want the changes that progress brings or feel they have no choice in the matter. Some communities, especially those with long-established lifestyles, may feel threatened by new developments and wish to preserve their traditions, even if they seem outdated or too reliant on urban society. This resistance to change can complicate the narrative around progress, as individuals may desire to halt changes that ultimately lead to a better future. It’s also important to recognize that while not all benefits of progress will reach everyone, many advancements do eventually become available to the broader population. Therefore, halting progress could mean missing out on important social improvements in areas like education and health.
8 Civilization Depends on Continued Progress
Civilization relies on ongoing progress due to the interconnectedness and rapid communication in today's world. The achievements of one civilization, particularly Western ones, have sparked desire and envy globally, leading many to want aspects of that culture, even if they don't wish to adopt it entirely. Both free and totalitarian governments claim to provide what people desire, which is often similar, but totalitarian regimes appear more organized in their approach to achieving these goals.
However, the advancements of civilization have also awakened aspirations in others, giving rise to the potential for conflict. Many people globally feel entitled to a share of existing wealth, influenced by Western ideals. As their aspirations grow, they may become increasingly dissatisfied if progress does not meet their expectations. This dissatisfaction can lead to calls for wealth redistribution, which could hinder overall economic growth and worsen future disparities.
The ever-increasing global population requires rapid material progress to meet their aspirations. A significant failure to fulfill these expectations could result in serious international tensions or even conflict. Therefore, the survival of civilization itself depends on maintaining a steady pace of progress. At this point, society must pursue growth and innovation since even a slight slowdown could be harmful. As the majority of humanity is only beginning to escape from poverty and suffering, any decline in progress could threaten global stability. Thus, pushing forward is essential, as the needs of the world demand it now more than ever.
1 the Disillusionment About Progress
There is a growing skepticism among intellectuals about the idea of progress, which was once seen as a sign of sophistication. While many people still hope for continual progress, thinkers often question its existence and desirability. This skepticism emerged as a reaction to oversimplified views that equate progress with positive change, ignoring that not all changes are beneficial. However, it's important to recognize that civilization is linked to progress, and without the forces that drive it, much of what makes us human would struggle to survive. The history of civilization demonstrates significant advancements in a relatively short time, yet human instincts have not adapted fully to modern life, leading to challenges that arise from this rapid transition.
2 Progress and Improvement
Progress involves moving towards a known goal in personal or organized efforts, but social evolution is different. It cannot be viewed as a straightforward advance because it is a complex process of development in human understanding. This process entails adapting, learning, and shifting values and desires. The nature of progress includes discovering the unknown, making its outcomes unpredictable. While we can gain some understanding of the forces driving this growth, we cannot predict specific outcomes or follow rigid rules for evolution.
In science, even when knowledge is pursued deliberately, the consequences of discoveries are often uncertain. Attempting to focus science solely on useful knowledge may hinder real progress. Although progress allows society to strive toward goals, the results might not always lead to increased satisfaction. Progress does not necessarily mean that the new state of affairs is better than the previous one, and it’s difficult to determine if we would be happier if we stopped our development at earlier stages.
What truly matters is the ongoing pursuit of what seems achievable at any moment, rather than the outcomes of past successes. A rapidly advancing society is generally happier and allows more individuals to experience upward movement. Progress leads to new knowledge that benefits society progressively, but it often takes time for insights to become widely accessible. Many continue to benefit from advancements before they reach the broader community, as new achievements require adaptation and development to be fully realized.
3 Progress and Inequality
Rapid economic progress often depends on inequality; advancements do not happen uniformly but in stages. This means that some people are ahead of others, which allows society to gain knowledge and improve living standards. Knowledge helps us effectively use resources for different purposes, leading to new products and services that benefit everyone. While material resources are limited, knowledge can be shared freely, allowing society to advance collectively.
Initially, new goods are often luxuries for a few before they become necessary for the broader population. Wealthy individuals spend on these luxuries, enabling experimentation that eventually leads to cheaper production for all. Over time, features like cars and refrigerators become accessible to the average person because they were first produced for those with higher incomes.
Moreover, advancements made by those with more resources pave the way for future developments, expanding options for everyone. The process of progress benefits from the experiences of early adopters, as innovations might never reach the masses if they had to be available to everyone from the start. In this way, even the poorest today benefit from the outcomes of past inequalities.
4 Experiments in Living
In a progressive society, wealth and opportunities are unevenly distributed, leading to a relative concept of poverty. The desires of individuals often stem from wanting what others have, but society does not guarantee equal satisfaction of these desires. Instead, it encourages effort through competition. Some believe that the rich experiment with new lifestyles, facilitating progress that ultimately benefits the poor, although this idea may seem cynical. In a planned economy, individuals need to test innovations before they become available to everyone, much like in free societies where the market naturally determines who leads. However, this could result in inequalities based on authority rather than chance. There is no clear measure for the ideal level of inequality, but as long as progress is continuous and all social strata are represented, those at lower levels benefit from advancements made by those ahead. The belief that leading individuals take away from others is misguided, as overall progress benefits everyone in the long term.
5 International Aspects
Discussing equality becomes clearer when looking at the differences between rich and poor countries rather than focusing only on local communities. The wealth gap between the West and poorer nations is largely due to the West's better use of knowledge and capital. While poorer countries have the potential to catch up faster than the West did, this advancement has been aided by the West's ability to progress without needing to distribute its wealth evenly. Wealthier nations tend to share their technological knowledge, allowing poorer countries to grow at a lower cost. This dynamic means that while some countries can benefit from the advancements made elsewhere, their growth may be reliant on others’ innovations. Countries that attempt to eliminate wealth differences may lose their competitive edge, as shown by Great Britain's decline in global leadership.
6 Redistribution and the Speed of Progress
Inequalities, both internationally and within a nation, can help everyone progress. In a community with wealth, individuals are better positioned to advance because they benefit from the resources and knowledge of the rich. Initially, those who are affluent may progress faster, but over time, those who start behind can catch up, leading to overall advancement. However, while redistributing wealth from the rich to the poor might seem beneficial in the short term, it can ultimately slow overall progress. Recent experiences in Europe show that societies implementing strict egalitarian policies often become stagnant, while competitive countries flourish. In advanced societies, recognizing that allowing some to advance is crucial for everyone's improvement can be challenging, but progress depends on removing barriers to success for all individuals.
7 Material Progress and the Other Values
Material progress in advanced countries often comes with concerns about its pace and focus on material gains. In times of rapid economic growth, artistic and intellectual achievements tend to decline. However, as people achieve a better economic condition, they may start to value non-material aspects of life more. Despite these advancements, many individuals might not want the changes that progress brings or feel they have no choice in the matter. Some communities, especially those with long-established lifestyles, may feel threatened by new developments and wish to preserve their traditions, even if they seem outdated or too reliant on urban society. This resistance to change can complicate the narrative around progress, as individuals may desire to halt changes that ultimately lead to a better future. It’s also important to recognize that while not all benefits of progress will reach everyone, many advancements do eventually become available to the broader population. Therefore, halting progress could mean missing out on important social improvements in areas like education and health.
8 Civilization Depends on Continued Progress
Civilization relies on ongoing progress due to the interconnectedness and rapid communication in today's world. The achievements of one civilization, particularly Western ones, have sparked desire and envy globally, leading many to want aspects of that culture, even if they don't wish to adopt it entirely. Both free and totalitarian governments claim to provide what people desire, which is often similar, but totalitarian regimes appear more organized in their approach to achieving these goals.
However, the advancements of civilization have also awakened aspirations in others, giving rise to the potential for conflict. Many people globally feel entitled to a share of existing wealth, influenced by Western ideals. As their aspirations grow, they may become increasingly dissatisfied if progress does not meet their expectations. This dissatisfaction can lead to calls for wealth redistribution, which could hinder overall economic growth and worsen future disparities.
The ever-increasing global population requires rapid material progress to meet their aspirations. A significant failure to fulfill these expectations could result in serious international tensions or even conflict. Therefore, the survival of civilization itself depends on maintaining a steady pace of progress. At this point, society must pursue growth and innovation since even a slight slowdown could be harmful. As the majority of humanity is only beginning to escape from poverty and suffering, any decline in progress could threaten global stability. Thus, pushing forward is essential, as the needs of the world demand it now more than ever.