The theory of social progress is an integral part of general sociology. At the same time, its value is relatively independent. She tries to find out what orientation processes in society have, the tendency of its development, and also reveals on this basis the general logic of the entire historical process.
The concepts of "progress", "development" and "regression"
Before considering the problems of social progress, we will find out the content of the following concepts: "progress", "development", "regression". Development is the broadest category, which denotes the process of qualitative changes taking place in certain areas. Such directions can be either a downward or an ascending line. Consequently, the concept of progress is only one of the sides of development, an ascending line from simple to complex, from lower to higher. Regress, on the contrary, is decline, stagnation, degradation. This is a movement from higher to lower, that is, in a downward line.
Opinion B. Shaw
Both its supporters and opponents have a theory of social progress. B. Shaw, an English writer, noted in this regard that the noble cause is the search for the logic of the historical process, but not grateful. In his opinion, a wise person seeks, first of all, to adapt to this world, and a foolish one - to adapt it to himself. Therefore, according to Bernard Shaw, progress depends largely on fools.
The study of the problem of social progress in antiquity
In the history of philosophical thought, this problem has been a subject of constant interest. In antiquity, for example, Seneca and Hesiod argued that in history there is no progress as such. On the contrary, it moves in the direction from the Golden Age, that is, regression is observed. The problem of social progress at the same time was considered by Aristotle and Plato. They were inclined in this matter to the ideas of the cycle in public life.
Christian interpretation
The Christian interpretation of the problem of social progress is also interesting. In it, he is seen as moving forward, upward, but as if on top of being, of history. So believed, for example, Aurelius Augustine.
Progress from the earthly basis in this case is detached, and its understanding is mainly connected with the personality: a person’s personal responsibility to God, retribution, contact with the divine.
Further consideration of this issue in history
The Renaissance era posed this problem as the problem of individual freedom and how to achieve it. In modern times, a different vision of social progress was formulated, which expresses the well-known saying: "Knowledge is power." However, at the same time, as in the period of the French Enlightenment, the problem of the inconsistency of moving forward appears. In particular, Rousseau points out the contradiction between moral progress and the progress of knowledge.
If we consider the German classical philosophy, we can see that development in it is treated as a movement forward, and the history of mankind is a process of development of the World Spirit, the Absolute Idea. Hegel held this position.
Opinion on this issue by J. A. Condorcet
J. Antoine Condorcet, a French thinker, is one of the most prominent theorists of the 2nd half of the 19th century. What is the problem of social progress from his point of view? Let's figure it out. Condorcet was convinced that moving forward depends on the successes of the mind, which are manifested in the spread of education and the growth of science. In the "nature" of man, according to this thinker, the ability to cultivate is inherent, and this determines social progress, which will go on forever. Although he limits this "infinity" to the framework of private property, believing that it is with its establishment that society moves forward, which is possible only under the conditions of this natural basis.
What did the second half of the 19th century bring in the study of this issue?
We see that the vast majority of the above-mentioned researchers who studied the problems of social progress believed that the root cause of moving forward is the mind, "its unlimited possibilities." However, in the 2nd half of the 19th century, in the understanding of this issue, a shift in emphasis occurred, up to the replacement of the concept of "progress" with "social changes" or the "cycle" of history. Researchers such as P. Sorokin and O. Spengler ("The Sunset of Europe") argued that the movement of society is on a downward line, and in the end civilization will inevitably die.
The problem of social progress and its criteria was also of interest to representatives of utopian socialism (for example, Karl Marx, whose portrait is presented above). They were convinced that moving forward is the law of the development of society, and it inevitably leads to the triumph of socialism in the future. They saw the driving force of progress in the success of enlightenment, in the human mind, in the moral improvement of people. Marxist ideology was formed in the middle of the 19th century. Its basis is the historical, dialectical-materialistic approach to society, its present, past and future. History is presented in this case as the activity of a person who pursues his goals.
We will not continue the list of authors who studied the problems of social progress, and their concepts. From the foregoing, we can conclude that none of them can be considered absolute truth, although there is a certain proportion of it in each of them. Probably, researchers will return for a long time to such a question as the problem of social progress. Philosophy has already accumulated many concepts, but all of them are somewhat one-sided.
Global issues of today
The contradictions of the social process are accumulating at the present stage in the global problems of mankind. These include the following:
- caused by the environmental crisis;
- The problem of establishing peace and preventing war;
- demographic (depopulationist and populationist);
- problems of spirituality (culture, health care, education) and spirituality (loss of internal guidelines - universal values) ;
- overcoming human disunity, which is caused by various political, economic and spiritual development of peoples and countries.
All these modern problems of social progress affect the interests of mankind as a whole and its future, and therefore have been called global. The unresolved nature of these and other issues threatens the continued existence of society as a whole. In addition, for their solution, they require the combination of efforts not only of individual countries and regions, but of all mankind.
Each of us is concerned with the problem of social progress. Social science, in general, is a very useful science, because we all live in society. Therefore, everyone should understand the basic laws of its functioning. At school, the problem of social progress is often superficially considered, and global problems are briefly described. Perhaps these topics should be given more attention, and then future generations will direct their efforts to address them.