The Myth of Progress

A notion bandied about, both in the media and in academics, is that of 'progress.' The idea, put simply, is that society will always improve itself. A problem immediately arises: one cannot define 'progress' any further than this. It is even more nebulous than 'globalisation' in meaning, and just as contentious a subject. In order to more clearly define progress, we will give our personal version thereof. Progress is:

An unending and inevitable process, moving the world towards a post-industrialised service economy. Society progresses towards an American-style middle-class lifestyle, and technology becomes both more efficient and less polluting. Progress is widely considered a 'good' thing, both a desirable and positive development.

Before we go further, let us say we consider 'progress' a load of bunk. For example, in the year 1800, the world population was around 1 billion. The vast majority of people then (i.e. 'the poor') were landless peasants. They had houses, they had food, they had beer or wine. The phrase 'poor but decent' comes to mind, in a general sense.

Fast forward to 2001, when 2.4 billion people lived on less than $2 per day. That's over twice as many people alive as in 1800... all completely or nearly destitute. Could you, Reader, live on about $730 per year, have only the clothes on your back (maybe a cinder block hut)? For the record, having less than $2 per day to live on is considered only 'moderate poverty' by the World Bank.

Another bit of 'progress' is the development of nuclear energy. It is argued that developing the power to split the atom was a 'good' thing - a 'good' thing which later acquainted itself with Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Is it a positive development that the planet could be rendered medically sterile several times over by fusion bombs? Even with 'peaceful' nuclear power generation, there is the deadly legacy of the radioactive waste; barrels of lethal crap which will exist for thousands of years to come. Progress?

Clinging to the idea that 'progress' is both a good and necessary thing is foolhardy. To believe that the old ways of doing things (a.k.a. business as usual) were the 'right' ways, is to be a casualty of the 2008 Depression. In the 2008 Depression, as with all past Depressions, one must adapt to the changes brought. For a closing metaphor, consider 'progress' the mirage of an oasis in the desert. One cannot afford to chase mirages; one must seek shelter.