NationStates Jolt Archive

I've been wondering about differences in the way people think about 'progress' and the way forward as a society. is it that we want high economic growth, more freedom, more science & technology, more justice (criminal or social), that we work towards eqality, democratisation of the world? which of these things do you regard as progress, choosing just one?

obviously they are all progress of some sort, so all of them can be regarded as desirable, so just pick the one which signifies the 'way forward' in your eyes).


personally i say 'none of the above' as none of the options that are, seemingly, commonly considered as 'progress' put human happiness at the heart of the issue. all other considerations are moot. in my eyes, sustaining high economic growth may not be the best thing to do to promote universal human happiness - with the homeless and those living under the poverty line, those who are too poor to buy the basic medicine they need to stay alive, and, lets not forget, the steadily rising levels of adult depression seen throughout the Western world.
i'm not saying a return to agrarian roots is in order, but i just don't think that 'progress' is necessarily what people usually regard the concept to be.

Several of the above. Focus on science and technology will spur economic growth that should be used to fund education and social welfare. Also Myrth. I'm surprised he wasn't an option in the poll.

hmmmm good question

id say that working toward justice is a way of helping human happiness. bad things are inevitable but justice helps us deal with it. id also consider economic freedom to be a vehicle to human happiness. it puts more control in the hand of the individual. more control means more chance at happiness.

In my opinion, there is no "ONE" choice that would do it, more a combination of several.

I think a big part of the "way foward" would be accomplished in the early ages with children learning and living the golden rule and treating others the way you would have them treat you. If people were more conscientious about other people and their property,etc... it would certainly improve things.
I feel so much of the future depends on how children are raised. If they are respected and nurtured, hopefully, they will carry on the trend. If they feel they belong and are worth something, they will hopefully treat others that way. If the trend has people starting on the right path, maybe that will ease the burden on the criminal justice system and the social programs. Maybe more people would support the programs instead of being supported by them.
There is no one easy solution, but if you have kids, you can do your part by starting with them.

I'm going to go with the things I can see empirically, and we can universally agree to be happening as the way forward. Namely science and technological advancement, economic growth, and from the "other" category, education.

interesting so far.... bump and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regressionism

I voted 1, but the answer imo is 1 and 2... because both go together.

the more free a people are, the more they will feel compelled (or perhaps "less hindered" is more apt) to start their own businesses.

some of those businesses will grow to become global corporations employing thousands of people.

Truly the way forward is through an Iron Fist! Sure Public killings, banning of elections, outlawing of Social Rights and making large taxes is not exactly a good path, but its the right one! Just look around, Democratic states have Economies so bad i'm suprised they can even pay workers! Phycopathic Dictatorships and have Human Rights sticking to them like flies round a trash can and Mandatory Consumerist States are having more killings than ever! Truly the way forward is with an Iron Fist! Of course there may be riots :mp5: , killings :sniper: and a number of sad citizens :( but think about! No Policy is perfect but The Iron Fist is the closest you'll get ;) !

Yup. Few of the above. Science is good, Economics is good, lots of them are good.

I don't think there's ever a thing as achieving universal human hapiness. Not unless they are told they are happy. Then again it's propoganda isn't it? Imo Depression occurs everywhere. Just that there's better studies and statistics on it in modern countries. People would simply never be happy. As there is unlimited wants and scarce resources. Hence economics, to achieve most out of it. Good economy growth is important.

Yup. Few of the above. Science is good, Economics is good, lots of them are good.

I don't think there's ever a thing as achieving universal human hapiness. Not unless they are told they are happy. Then again it's propoganda isn't it? Imo Depression occurs everywhere. Just that there's better studies and statistics on it in modern countries. People would simply never be happy. As there is unlimited wants and scarce resources. Hence economics, to achieve most out of it. Good economy growth is important.
hmm... it depends of course on what is meant by happy. the problem is that under rampant consumerism, people's demands just keep growing & people are never satisfied. it doesn't take the most trendy trainers, or the most up-to-date gaget, or the flashiest car to make one happy; and those who only find happiness in such aquisition of material goods have been taken in by the consumerism (this is my, slightly mental, view anyhow).
i also say that there is, ultimatley, no reason to produce these things. they make people happy in the short term, but in the long term cause society-wide problems and unhappiness. if these things weren't produced, there would be plenty of resources to go around. also, if things were produced on a more local scale, regional economies could be more self-sufficient, sustainable (both economically and for the environment), and perhaps people will be happier.

i dunno i'm ranting. this is my half finished thoughts on the matter :)

Putting politicans against walls and shooting them.

In the back.

I consider "progress" to be any steps towards anarchy. All of the choices other than the religious one would be steps that would help in facilitating anarchy.