I’ve heard this term ‘progress’ used so much by so many people. What is ‘progress’?
Progress (noun)* :
advancement: gradual improvement or growth or development; “advancement of knowledge”; “great progress in the arts” a movement forward; “he listened for the progress of the troops” build up: form or accumulate steadily; “Resistance to the manager’s plan built up quickly”; “Pressure is building up at the Indian-Pakistani border”
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
*Of course I’m showing only the definitions of ‘progress’ as a noun: define: Progress
It’s not that I have a problem with this word per se. The problem I’m having with this word is how meaningless its definition has become. The word has been castrated by continually abusive use; Google Search: progressive culture
This term ‘progressive’ used to describe the state of a culture is so common, and yet so: subjective, (often) ethnocentric, and even propagandic** (glittering generalities***).
**I am using this term to describe something as a form of propaganda. It appears LangMaker agrees.
***Linked material written by Brendan Boehr from“The Legitimacy Farm” – 2007
Example: Relevant Magazine (under: “Your Voice”)
Now, I’m not trying to pick on anyone here but this website uses ‘progressive’ in exactly the fashion I worry about. They may be justified in using the term (though very doubtful in this example), but they certainly are not providing any form of reasoning as to what distinguishes a progressive culture to a non-progressive culture. How can one define their own culture as progressive when this relative term is (1) not being used in comparison to anything, and (2) no actual definition whatsoever [even informal] is written. This word ‘progressive’ in this context is so general, and because of its connotations, becomes ‘propagandic’ in nature
Example: DOES SCIENCE PROGRESS:
“Though I have defined science as progressive, I admit it is not possible to know if the knowledge uncovered by the scientific method is positive (“certain”), or not, because we have no outside source–no Archimedean point–from which to view Reality.” – Michael Shermer
I know this example does not have to do with culture really, but I thought I should provide an example of restrained usage of the word ‘progressive’. (perhaps restrained isn’t the best choice of words). It seems that Micheal Shermer also wants to use the term ‘progress’ carefully, as he clearly wants to have the usage of this word remain neutral.
Shermer is a good source to cite if you want moderate, carefully considered yet scientific perspectives. Your perspective on the word “progress” reminds me of CS Lewis’s take on the word “Christian.”
He said, “In calling anyone a Christian they will mean that they think him a good man. But that way of using the word will be no enrichment of the language, for we already have the word good. Meanwhile, the word Christian will have been spoiled for any really useful purpose it might have served.”
Oops I forgot to provide the link to that quote. See Philosophy For Life
I have that book here in my bookshelf. I haven’t read the whole thing though. “Mere Christianity”: Ryan told me I should read it. As it is actually his.