The arc of history bends towards progress

Most people born after the age of Enlightenment take it for granted that progress is inevitable. Science, technology and medicine lead to ever more health, wealth and mobility. Productivity and education increase hand in hand, only the sky is the limit. 

Democracy unfolded, social justice and civil and women's rights became goals including more people into production, education and decision making. Not only did more people grow old but the human body grew taller and athletes break ever new records. Human brains and senses attune remarkably well to new environmental challenges, from driving cars to exploring space, being able to handle complicated computer interfaces or understanding quantum physics. In spite of mind bending global population growth, global hunger was reduced and more and more people benefitted from some level of prosperity.

This gave the nostalgic notion that "the good old times" were "better" little currency. Realizing how limited those old days were for people of color, women, children and people with disabilities sustained a widespread sentiment that the future will be better than the past. The teleological arc long held by religion with a promise of a better afterlife was replaced by the prospect of a better life right here on this earth, for us, our children and children's-children. Whatever losses in the environment and biodiversity seemed ...READ FULL ARTICLE HERE