Yardsticks for progress
This article questions whether technological and material progress should be the primary metric for civilizational advancement. The author argues that despite modern comforts, human behavior remains stagnant, suggesting that moral and intellectual growth should be the true yardstick.
Why it matters
It challenges the modern obsession with material growth and prompts a philosophical reflection on the state of human nature.
While discussing the progress of civilisation, the question arises as to what should be the criteria for evaluating progress or otherwise.
Should civilisational assessment be made on the basis of progress of science and technology, development of equipment and facilities for ensuring a comfortable living, and advancement in medical science that now successfully treat what was once considered as terminal illnesses?
Alternatively, should civilisation be evaluated on the basis of the betterment of thought process and tolerance among humans?
While technological advancement and consequent betterment of lifestyle comforts as well as communication facilities have certainly happened steadily and progressively, the ground reality is that such material advancements have not resulted in improvement in human happiness index. In such case, one has to conclude that the various material advancements which are supposed to contribute to improve the human happiness index have no real impact on human behaviour.
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