Progress is a real complex of phenomena

The arguments of the idealists and materialists deal with many topics. But one of them literally bleeds both sides, causing a huge number of raging emotions. This is a problem of progress. A very abstract noun causes almost sacred wars. Progress is what it seems, or not? The very formulation of such a question is very, very difficult to understand. Let's put all the dots over nonexistent in Russian with vowels i.

About bread

Do you need arguments that the phenomenon under discussion does exist? Easily! Progress is not only an ideal, but also a material phenomenon. Let's start with the banal - daily bread. Over time, objectively, the world has become more food. Hunger in developed countries happens only during the war. Life expectancy also increased significantly: a few hundred years ago at the age of 40, a man was considered (and physiologically) a deep old man. Scientific progress has greatly advanced medicine. Child labor has ceased to be a necessity in most states. For comparison: in the 19th century in England, children were sent to work in six years. Yes, and now you can work less: not 14 hours, but 6-8, and do not die of hunger.

Independence

With housing, despite the notorious "housing issue", it became easier. Compare the modern family of 4 people in two rooms with a family of 12 in one. In general, in the sense of denseness, it has become much easier. The car gave personal mobility, which immediately became a vital value for many. Older people became more independent. Complaining of a low pension? Previously, most of it did not receive at all and lived from the favor of younger relatives. Now, with a reasonable and far-sighted approach, one can travel and enjoy life on a pension. If you do not assume that someone has something to expect from the state, then poverty in retirement will not be threatened.

Eloquent figures

Women's rights have become more realized. Do not believe me? 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 it says a lot. In traditional Muslim societies and now men live longer. Progress is obvious when you compare numbers.

Freedom and power

Now about what idealists do not believe in - about social improvements. Development and progress in this area are also evident, although there are also new dangers, such as Muslim terrorism. So, the power of capital is limited by the forces of the state, the monopoly is suppressed with greater or less success, there is a free compulsory education that gives people opportunities, condemnation of slavery and actions to eradicate it. The rule of law, and not of the human will, is more characteristic of the modern world than of the ancient. Although there have been positive exceptions in the past, there are negative exceptions now. But the trend is observed in the direction of social progress.

People always want better than they are. Yes, there are problems of inequality, the dominance of the dark sides of human nature, militant Islam. But all of them can not compare with the decreased infant mortality. If not for this achievement, 70% of readers reading the article now simply would not live to the present age. So do not believe in idealists. Progress is a real phenomenon. And criticizing, you should always offer.