Do we need a better understanding of 'progress'?

Re:Do we need a better understanding of 'progress'? by B1FF_PSUVM on Friday June 17, 2022 @03:31PM (#31783144)

I'd argue that we need to understand how progress got its current meaning, as something undisputedly good.

A few centuries ago it just meant movement along a path - e.g. The Pilgrim's Progress.

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Re:Do we need a better understanding of 'progress'? by LordDragonfang on Friday June 17, 2022 @06:25PM (#31785209)

I'd wager it came from positive associations with the notion of "scientific progress". Google NGrams:

It correlates pretty cleanly with "social progress" as well

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Re:Do we need a better understanding of 'progress'? by B1FF_PSUVM on Friday June 17, 2022 @07:25PM (#31785775)

The killer is "historical progress" - around Montaigne's time they still debated if the (golden age) ancients or the moderns had it.

Afterwards they lost all doubt. What people will do for a little aspirin ...

(Marx went to town on it, paradise on earth was at hand. Scientifically, of course.)

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