The concept of progress has been applied to a number of issues. One is scientific and technological progress. The other is the social progress. I take no issue with the concept of scientific and technological progress. Clearly that is a real thing, and it has done a lot to improve the lives of all sorts of people. My concern is with the concept of social progress. Frankly, I do not believe that such a thing exists. And I make this finding based on the study of world history. Societies change all the time in all sorts of directions and for all sorts of reasons. Under the Tang Dynasty in 9th century AD, the social climate was very relaxed. The empires after that changed all that; and for a long time China has been a very authoritarian country. In the Western civilization, the situation has varied greatly. The “decadence” of Rome was followed by the medieval era that was very repressive. The Middle Ages were followed by the Renaissance which was quite relaxed. That, in turn, was followed by the Reformation; which was followed by rationalism; which was followed by Romanticism; which was followed by the Victorian Era; which was followed by the bohemian period. Some of these had relaxed social values and some did not. At no point is there a linear trend toward one or the other outcome. In 1960s and 1970s many people thought that liberalization of social attitudes was progress. In 1980s and 1990s people stopped believing in such things. Many people want to portray what happened in 1960s and 1970s as an aberration; a result of a bad crop. The life-affirming feminism of 1960s and 1970s was replaced by a vicious feminism that wanted to exterminate a whole section of the population – the people they saw as “sociopaths” and “perverts.” Certainly some of them thought that what they were doing the right thing. Many of them thought that they were affectuating social progress. They were not. Once again, is there such a thing as social progress? I do not believe that there is. Social values change all the time in all sorts of directions and for different reasons. That something is consistent with Marxism does not make it progress. There are plenty of intelligent women who prefer the “traditional” role; and that does not make them reactionaries. Just about everyone wants scientific and technological progress in the world. But on social issues people will disagree. Some will look to the Bible and the Quran and others will look toward feminism. Right now, I do not know which one is better than the other. People have lived well in both, and others suffered under both.
Social Progress is an entirely arbitrary and individually defined concept. What one person sees as progression another defines as regressive or negative. And example would be the Gay rights movement....many see this as an expansion of human rights in our society while others find it repulsive and a sign of societal degradation. Religion often comes into play in this and thus is the separation clause a continuous issue.
I want to say, I enjoyed reading the entire post. No joke. You summed up your post great, so there is where I reply. I agree that the likelihood of there ever being a Social Utopia in the near future, is about as right out of the question... As right out of the question can be. I'll add especially now, because @ the tender age if 46, outside of the drama between the Nixon/Ford years, (I remember watching Dickie's resignation on the B&W TV) I have never experienced not only the level of domestic social unrest, but Global Social unrest. I sincerely believe nothing but First Contact will ever usher in the Social Utopia mentioned before.
Social Progress is more of in the eye of the beholder sort of thing, or maybe better said according to who's judgement? a Muslim's idea or view of social progress is probably quite different then most of the rest of the world's view of what Social Progress is. truly its the fulfillment of one's views of what the world around them ought to be, hence making the world into their own image, but who's view is the correct view over all others? which way of life need no justification, and which ways are always seeking justification?
I generally laugh at the idea of progress, though medical advances have eased much pain and suffering. I suppose enfranchisement of women and African Americans is better than not. Of course, this hasn't made anyone measurably happier than they were before, except for politicians who will "fight for you!" as they enjoy the privileges that elected office confers upon them. And then we seemly hopelessly in debt now since everyone is entitled to everything and forever -- is social progress to blame? Yes.
Well, progress towards what I guess. Society progresses through time regardless right? I'd like to see a society that constantly works toward its own betterment. To be kinder, wiser and more knowledgeable of the universe. But thats more of a path than a goal.
Yes, I get your point, but respectfully quibble a bit: Europe did not progress after the Romans fell; society changed drastically, but this was regress by almost any measure, at least for the next four or five hundred years, not progress. Maybe the Christianization of Europe occurred continually through the dark ages, and the fall of Rome was a necessary precursor, and that may be considered progress. But now the church has ben discredited and largely abandoned. And replaced by what? Cynicism, fatalism, materialism, hedonism, and the Madonna of MTV instead of the Madonna of the Bible. I can definitely sign on to kinder, wiser, and more ... well actually, I balk a bit at "knowledge of the universe." I am naturally curious, but I don't think there is really anything "out there" that we can grasp or utilize in any beneficial way. Whatever scientific progress we make seems always accompanied by advances in weaponry, i.e., killing machines. God this is depressing. I think I'll go read some Augustine and Ambrose.
The progress of technology and social progress are intertwined but not synonymous. There certainly may be a future where technology steamrolls over humanity. While I hope this is unlikely I think its foolish to ignore the possibility. If it happens it will undoubtedly happen from social failure, which in the grand scheme may be what social progress is.
The human condition is much improved by every measure, but human nature has not changed one bit. Societies are most often established in opposition to individuals. Societies are insane, whereas insanity is rare in individuals. As societies progress, individuality regresses, private property regresses, and liberty regresses. Individual progress, individual well being, is far more important than "social progress".
I seem to remember some suggestion that "society" is a meaningless word anyway, shorthand for "the aggregate of people living together in an organize community." Doesn't tell you very much, and even less abut individuals and subgroups. "Culture", I think (arts, beliefs, institutions) is more informative and interesting. Obviously there are subcultures.
Materially improved, and in some places, yes, I agree. But I also believe firmly that we are much more anxious, or maybe I should say many more of us are anxious, about money, terrorism, and the environment, than in certain times past. Everyone rushes now to get all the things done that we think we have to do. Were the 50's and early 60's, the Cuban missile crisis and Vietnam aside (LOL) really as laid back as I remember them, or was it just that I was a child and had no responsibilities, and that large swathes of the population, especially including African Americans before civil rights laws, were very anxious and insecure indeed? Southern summers in the 50's and 60's were absolutely glorious for me and my friends. We spent all day outside in the heat, loving it. We worried about absolutely nothing that I can recall. We must have smelled like wet goats when we finally came home at supper time.
I think there is such a thing as individual progress but large scale social "progress" seems to happen in cycles. Societies either regress into barbarism, or else they become too specialized, too refined, until they are almost wholly focused upon being more clever than each other, while running away from their enemies and simultaneously praising them (SJWs are not the first historical example of this happening). The undoubtedly destructive effects of things like communism appear to have actually preserved the Russians and Chinese in the long run, the same can't be said for large portions of the western white population. From a Buddhist perspective, some people free themselves from these cycles but most are indefinitely trapped within the illusion of progress and regression.
You cannot have progress without an agreed upon goal. Since there is no agreed upon goal then progress must be in the mind of the beholder.
