Line 1: |
Line 1: |
− | [[File:lighterstill.jpg]] | + | [[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Haf_exnihilo_.jpg|right|frame]] |
| | | |
| In history, '''progress''' is the [[idea]] of an advance that occurs within the limits of [[collective]] [[morality]] and [[knowledge]] of its respective environment. Progress is not necessarily a monotonically increasing advance. The idea of eternal progress is in opposition to the cyclic theory of eternal return or eternal recurrence, which implies that with a [[finite]] amount of [[space]] and [[energy]] in the [[universe]], all events will recur indefinitely. | | In history, '''progress''' is the [[idea]] of an advance that occurs within the limits of [[collective]] [[morality]] and [[knowledge]] of its respective environment. Progress is not necessarily a monotonically increasing advance. The idea of eternal progress is in opposition to the cyclic theory of eternal return or eternal recurrence, which implies that with a [[finite]] amount of [[space]] and [[energy]] in the [[universe]], all events will recur indefinitely. |
| | | |
| The idea of progress is often associated with the Western notion of a straight linear direction as developed by [[Aristotle]], or the more complex notion as developed by [[Plato]]. Both versions are found in Judeo-Christian [[doctrine]]. The idea spread during the [[Renaissance]] in early modern Europe, marking the end of the [[static]] view of [[history]] and society which characterized feudalism. Belief in progress was a dominant paradigm in the 18th and 19th centuries, and the Industrial Revolution. | | The idea of progress is often associated with the Western notion of a straight linear direction as developed by [[Aristotle]], or the more complex notion as developed by [[Plato]]. Both versions are found in Judeo-Christian [[doctrine]]. The idea spread during the [[Renaissance]] in early modern Europe, marking the end of the [[static]] view of [[history]] and society which characterized feudalism. Belief in progress was a dominant paradigm in the 18th and 19th centuries, and the Industrial Revolution. |
| + | <center>For lessons on the [[topic]] of '''''Progress''''', follow [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Progress this link].</center> |
| ==Antiquity== | | ==Antiquity== |
| Historian J. B. Bury argued that thought in ancient Greece was dominated by the theory of world-cycles or the doctrine of eternal return, and was steeped in a [[belief]] parallel to the Judaic "fall of man," but rather from a preceding "Golden Age" of innocence and simplicity. [[Time]] was generally regarded as the enemy of [[humanity]] which depreciates the [[value]] of the world. He credits the [[Epicureans]] with having had a potential for leading to the [[foundation]] of a theory of Progress through their [[materialistic]] acceptance of the atomism of Democritus as the explanation for a world without an intervening [[Deity]]. "For them, the earliest condition of men resembled that of the beasts, and from this primitive and miserable condition they laboriously reached the existing fragile [[state]] of [[civilization]], not by external guidance or as a consequence of some initial [[design]], but simply by the exercise of human [[intelligence]] throughout a long period." | | Historian J. B. Bury argued that thought in ancient Greece was dominated by the theory of world-cycles or the doctrine of eternal return, and was steeped in a [[belief]] parallel to the Judaic "fall of man," but rather from a preceding "Golden Age" of innocence and simplicity. [[Time]] was generally regarded as the enemy of [[humanity]] which depreciates the [[value]] of the world. He credits the [[Epicureans]] with having had a potential for leading to the [[foundation]] of a theory of Progress through their [[materialistic]] acceptance of the atomism of Democritus as the explanation for a world without an intervening [[Deity]]. "For them, the earliest condition of men resembled that of the beasts, and from this primitive and miserable condition they laboriously reached the existing fragile [[state]] of [[civilization]], not by external guidance or as a consequence of some initial [[design]], but simply by the exercise of human [[intelligence]] throughout a long period." |
Line 18: |
Line 19: |
| faith in reason and scientific/scholarly knowledge obtained through reason | | faith in reason and scientific/scholarly knowledge obtained through reason |
| intrinsic importance and worth of life on earth. | | intrinsic importance and worth of life on earth. |
| + | ==Quote== |
| + | This ancient [[culture]] (China) has contributed much to [[human]] [[happiness]]; millions of human beings have lived and died, blessed by its achievements. For centuries this great [[civilization]] has rested upon the laurels of the past, but it is even now reawakening to en[[vision]] anew the goals of [[mortal]] [[existence]], once again to take up the unremitting struggle for never-ending '''progress'''.[https://mercy.urantia.org/cgi-bin/webglimpse/mfs/usr/local/www/data/papers?link=https://mercy.urantia.org/papers/paper79.html&file=/usr/local/www/data/papers/paper79.html&line=172#mfs] |
| ==Definition== | | ==Definition== |
| * I. The course or process of a series of actions, events, etc., through time; advancement through such a course. | | * I. The course or process of a series of actions, events, etc., through time; advancement through such a course. |
Line 32: |
Line 35: |
| :c. Motion forwards, as opposed to rest or regress; advance. Also in figurative contexts. | | :c. Motion forwards, as opposed to rest or regress; advance. Also in figurative contexts. |
| :d. A region or distance traversed. Obs. rare. | | :d. A region or distance traversed. Obs. rare. |
| + | |
| ==External links and references== | | ==External links and references== |
− | * Murray, Charles, [http://www.hooverdigest.org/013/murray.html The Idea of Progress: Once Again, with Feeling] ''from the [http://www.hooverdigest.org/ Hoover Digest]'' | + | * Murray, Charles, [https://www.hooverdigest.org/013/murray.html The Idea of Progress: Once Again, with Feeling] ''from the [https://www.hooverdigest.org/ Hoover Digest]'' |
− | * Nisbet, Robert A., [http://oll.libertyfund.org/Essays/Bibliographical/Nisbet0190/Progress.html The Idea Of Progress], ''from the [http://oll.libertyfund.org/ Online Library of Liberty]'' | + | * Nisbet, Robert A., [https://oll.libertyfund.org/Essays/Bibliographical/Nisbet0190/Progress.html The Idea Of Progress], ''from the [https://oll.libertyfund.org/ Online Library of Liberty]'' |
− | * Bury, J.B., 1920 [http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/4557 The Idea of Progress: An Inquiry into its Origin and Growth]'' from [http://www.gutenberg.org/ Project Gutenberg]'' | + | * Bury, J.B., 1920 [https://www.gutenberg.org/etext/4557 The Idea of Progress: An Inquiry into its Origin and Growth]'' from [https://www.gutenberg.org/ Project Gutenberg]'' |
− | * Plato, ''[http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/1750 The Laws]'' (from [http://www.gutenberg.org/ Project Gutenberg]) | + | * Plato, ''[https://www.gutenberg.org/etext/1750 The Laws]'' (from [https://www.gutenberg.org/ Project Gutenberg]) |
− | * Plato, ''[http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/1738 The Statesman]'' (from [http://www.gutenberg.org/ Project Gutenberg]) | + | * Plato, ''[https://www.gutenberg.org/etext/1738 The Statesman]'' (from [https://www.gutenberg.org/ Project Gutenberg]) |
− | * St. Augustine, 426, [http://thirdmill.org/files/english/texts/ecf/npnf1.2.zip The City of God] from [http://www.thirdmill.org/ Third Millennium Ministries], [http://thirdmill.org/books/series.asp/category/bookssub8#ecf Early Church Fathers] | + | * St. Augustine, 426, [https://thirdmill.org/files/english/texts/ecf/npnf1.2.zip The City of God] from [https://www.thirdmill.org/ Third Millennium Ministries], [https://thirdmill.org/books/series.asp/category/bookssub8#ecf Early Church Fathers] |
| ==References== | | ==References== |
| #Dodds, E. R., The Ancient Concept of Progress | | #Dodds, E. R., The Ancient Concept of Progress |