Critical analysis of human progress: Its negative and positive sides in the late-capitalism

TL;DR

This paper defines human progress as an endless pursuit of wellbeing driven by societal goals, highlighting its positive impacts on life quality and knowledge, while also acknowledging its potential negative effects on society and the environment.

Contribution

It offers a pragmatic, comprehensive definition of human progress that accounts for both its positive and negative aspects in the context of late capitalism.

Findings

Progress enhances health, wealth, knowledge, technology, and freedom.

Economic growth alone does not equate to human progress.

Progress can have negative effects on society and the environment.

Abstract

The concept of progress has characterized human society from millennia. However, this concept is elusive and too often given for certain. The goal of this paper is to suggest a general definition of human progress that satisfies, whenever possible the conditions of independence, generality, epistemological applicability and empirical correctness. This study proposes, within a pragmatic approach, human progress as an inexhaustible process driven by an ideal of maximum wellbeing of purposeful people which, on attainment of any of its goals or objectives for increasing wellbeing, then seek another consequential goal and objective, endlessly, which more closely approximates its ideal fixed in new socioeconomic contexts over time and space. The human progress, in the global, capitalistic, and post-humanistic Era, improves the fundamental life-interests represented by health, wealth, expansion of knowledge, technology and freedom directed to increase wellbeing throughout the society. These factors support the acquisition by humanity of better and more complex forms of life. However, this study shows the inconsistency of the equation economic growth= progress because human progress also generates, during its continuous process without limit, negative effects for human being, environment and society.