Disputes between idealists and materialists touch on many topics. But one of them literally pits both sides, causing a huge amount of raging emotions. This is the problem of progress. A very abstract noun causes almost holy wars. Is progress what it seems, or is it not? The very formulation of such a question is very, very difficult to understand. Let's dot all the vowels that do not exist in Russian i.
About bread
Need arguments that the phenomenon under discussion does exist? Easily! Progress is not only an ideal, but also a completely material phenomenon. Let's start with the banal - daily bread. Over time, objectively, there was more food in the world. Famine in developed countries occurs only in times of war. Life expectancy has also increased significantly: a few centuries ago, at the age of 40, a person was considered (and was physiologically) a very old man. Scientific progress has greatly advanced medicine. Child labor stoppedbe a necessity in most states. For comparison: in the 19th century in England, children were sent to work at the age of six. Yes, and now you can work less: not 14 hours, but 6-8, and at the same time not die of hunger.
Independence
With housing, despite the notorious "housing problem", it has become easier. Compare a modern family of 4 in two rooms to a family of 12 in one. In general, in terms of densely populated areas, it has become much easier. The car gave personal mobility, which immediately became a life value for many. Older people have become more independent. Complain about low pension? Previously, the majority did not receive it at all and lived at the mercy of younger relatives. Now, with a reasonable and far-sighted approach, in retirement you can travel and enjoy life. If we do not consider that someone owes something and waits for favors from the state, then there will be no threat of poverty in retirement.
Eloquent numbers
Women's rights have become more realized. Don't believe? Just compare the life expectancy of women and men in the 18th century and modern. Previously, the difference was not in favor of the fair sex. And that says a lot. In traditional Muslim societies, even now, men live longer. Progress is an obvious phenomenon when you compare the numbers.
Freedom and power
Now for what idealists don't believe in - social improvement. Development and progress in this area is also obvious, although new dangers have arisen, such as Muslim terrorism. So the powercapital is limited by the forces of the state, monopolies are suppressed with more or less success, there is free compulsory education that empowers people, condemnation of slavery and action to eradicate it. The rule of law, and not of human will, is more characteristic of the modern world than of the ancient one. While there have been positive exceptions in the past, there are negative exceptions now. But the trend is towards social progress.
People always want better than what they have. Yes, there are problems of inequality, the dominance of the dark sides of human nature, militant Islam. But all of them cannot be compared with the reduced infant mortality. If not for this achievement, 70% of those reading the article now simply would not have lived to this age. So do not believe the idealists. Progress is a real thing. And when criticizing, you should always offer.
