# Progress Progress is the idea that human civilization improves over time—that knowledge accumulates, suffering decreases, and life gets better. This Enlightenment idea emerged in the 17th-18th centuries, replacing cyclical or degenerative views of history. Key thinkers include Condorcet, Hegel, and the philosophes. [[Steven Pinker]]'s *[[Enlightenment Now]]* defends this view with extensive data on declining violence, poverty, and disease. Critics argue progress isn't inevitable or universal: colonialism, world wars, environmental destruction, and inequality complicate triumphalist narratives. "Progressophobia" (Pinker's term) describes the tendency to believe things are getting worse despite evidence. The debate involves cognitive biases (negativity bias, availability heuristic), media incentives, and philosophical questions about what counts as improvement. Progress requires active defense through [[Rationalism]], science, and [[Humanism]]. ## Evidence For Progress | Domain | Trend | |--------|-------| | Violence | Long-term decline | | Life expectancy | Rising globally | | Extreme poverty | Declining | | Literacy | Rising | | Child mortality | Declining | ## References - Pinker, Steven. *[[Enlightenment Now]]* (2018) - Pinker, Steven. *The Better Angels of Our Nature* (2011) ## Related - [[Steven Pinker]] - [[Enlightenment Now]] - [[Humanism]] - [[Rationalism]] - [[Cognitive Biases]]