History shows that Progress doesn't exist. You want to know what the most common thing to do is? Say that the previous movement sucks to justify your own movement. Then that movement becomes dominant, and then the next generation says that movement sucks and starts their own movement, oftentimes going the complete opposite direction. Imo, There is no empirical evidence to show that Progress exists.
3 years ago · 👍 tempo, ivanq
I agree there is certainly some historical patterns and pendulum swings that cause people to behave in specific ways. Maybe "progress" can only be viewed objectively by looking at such metrics as the number of people suffering due to war, disease, poverty, or hunger? It doesn't feel right to reduce everything to a statistic, but in the big picture, over a long timespan, perhaps that's all that matters. · 3 years ago
@skyjake While i see what you're saying, I have to disagree in that it doesn't actually matter what people think is "good" or "bad" because different opinions circle back around eventually. One generation thinks A, the next thinks B, then the next will think A again. Additionally, some things are just traded in for other things. We might progress in technology, but at what cost? We'd just be trading poor technology for mental health issues, for example. · 3 years ago
The only constant in this world is change, but everyone will have their own opinion whether the change is for good or bad. One's concept of "progress" will evolve as one gains years and wisdom. Those who care or are forced to will each pull in a different direction... Personally, I believe that global communication channels enabled by the internet create larger, stronger factions to effect change. We can only hope that the capitalists, populists, and fascists won't gain an upper hand on this global arena and thrust us into darker times. · 3 years ago