Progress and other Myths

Progress is one of those words that we believe in for no good reason. Its one of those words we use to define our structure and society and scientific and artistic endeavors – we , we now this generation are in the midst of progress. A couple of generations ago – it was THE word – Progress =- Starships, Spacemen – now its a given, we are in the midst of progress.

So stop and think – what has progressed, if we use the term, as most of us use it – i.e.

Progress indicates generally forward moving (L. Progressus, a going forward, advance¹) and may refer to:

In science: Progress (philosophy)

• Evolutionary progress, the idea that there is a largest-scale trend in evolution of organisms and that the trend is toward improvement.
• Scientific progress, the idea that science increases its problem solving ability through the application of some scientific method
• Social progress, process in which societies or individuals become better

“improvement”, “better” etc. Really?  – side note

Progress trap, process in which science and technology, in pursuing innovation, create more problems than they can solve

But lets think of progress as moving forward in a positive direction

So how far have we”moved forward” in terms of living with each other?

or, Helping each other, or understanding each other, or understanding ourselves or any form of living with each other.

Do we fight less? Are we less jealous? Are we less angry? Are we…better, in any way?

Well we have DVD’s and Blu Ray – that’s progress right? Thats new stuff

Ok – do we know what we are made of or what anything is made of – do we know the fundamental “stuff” that makes up everything else? – No

Do we know how the fundamental building blocks of our bodies work? – No (the word gene is made-up and no DNA does not exclusively carry inheritance etc characteristics

Do we know…ooh lets see something simple, everyday – what gravity is? No

So wheres the progress.Not that we should expect it – its hard to examine and know a thing, when you are the thing. But our hubris is almost infinite – isnt it?

They say. “they” say – that there is more “awareness” these days – more “aware” individuals than ever historically? And sson we will reach the tipping point (dont you love a hackneyed phrase?) and we will all evole

Right on.

In the West we have progressed from survival to greed – is that progress? I guess. Greed for things, greed for power, greed to be “right”.The greed to control the planets climate. Greed.

And now the rest of the world follows – The greed for power in the Independent African Nations – the greed for recognition in China.

So I am wrong there is progress after all – from bad to worse.

Once we have just enough, we want more