To: Andy and anyone interested
From: Rog
Is society making progress? What are your thoughts?
Andy,
You accuse me of being overly optimistic on social progress. Let me state my
position, while trying to avoid isolated anecdotes. In all cases, I will
compare today's best social quality against other examples or eras, rather
than against an absolute. My argument is that it is getting better, not that
it is good enough.
Do you agree with the following social improvements?
Developed nations become interrelated and mutually dependent and are less
likely to go to war with each other (democracies are very, very unlikely to
wage war).
Developed nations support more people to a higher standard of living than
ever previously possible. They provide better equality of opportunity,
better education, better health, better lifespan, better variety of
entertainment/experience/freedom and a better standard of living.
Developed societies are more capable of sustaining their necessary resources
than previous eras. Developed nations face no shortage of energy. There are
lots of alternatives, and as technology advances, the alternatives expand and
the price tends to drop. Other resources are either renewable (if managed
well) or if limited, they are substitutable, recyclable, or also benefit from
improved technology.
Developed nations produce less environmental damage (to biodiversity,
forests, water/air quality,etc) per person than did previous generations or
than do less developed nations. Developed nations are learning to find
balance with their environment, and they are wealthy and enlightened enough
to do something to ensure this occurs. The glaring unsolved problem is
hypothetical global warming. I believe the solution here is obvious though
(invest in technology to quickly shift to clean, non-greenhouse-causing
energy sources, and even more importantly, to quit reproducing like
rabbits!).
Less developed countries have also gained more in the last 50 years than in
the prior 500. They have made big improvements in education, literacy,
elimination of slavery, enhanced freedom for women and minorities, enhanced
income, improved health, medical care, nutrition, lifespan and child
mortality, etc. In comparison to the advanced societies or to any ideal, they
have a long way to go though.
I believe social governmental structure has improved over prior eras.
Democracies are imperfect, but remarkably successful considering. They are
better so far than other forms of government (at ensuring social quality).
Developed countries spend less of a share of their GDP (wealth, resources,
what-have-you) on defense than have previous eras. I believe armaments,
defense and attention to survival were much more significant in feudal Europe
or primitive New Guinea, for example, than in modern Europe.
I believe people are less likely to die via murder or warfare in developed,
democratic countries than in past eras of history (some problems still come
from undeveloped countries and undeveloped but technologically-enhanced,
centralized-command governments)
I believe that developed nations can sustain themselves without having to
exploit less developed cultures. They do not need to steal, enslave etc
others to produce their wealth. (In fact, I believe exploitation is
unsupportable and counterproductiveover the long term -- but this is REAL
debatable).
Finally, developed societies have progressed in the fields of science and
technology and related fields of knowledge. They have created the
intellectual level.
IN CONCLUSION:
I see incredible social progress over recorded history, and I see it
progressing faster over time. I don't see progress as uninterrupted or
inevitable though. Also, I see where progress leads to new problems. The
biggest current problem is an outcome of our greatest success -- namely our
success at improving nutrition, medical care, lifespan and reducing child
mortality. We fixed the biological problem of *death* without compensating
by lowering birth rates. This is leading to the overtaxing of the earth and
her resources. The main solution is of course controlled growth (fewer kids),
and this can happen lots of ways (and tends to occur spontaneously in
developed societies -- probably due to female freedom). The secondary
solution is continued technological progress to learn how to get more out of
less.
It is odd to view the absence of death as a *problem,* but it is in some
ways. The solution needs to embrace empathy for all men and cultures though
(as well as for the planet and our intellectual progress).
Where do you agree/disagree?
Risky Rog
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