The Idea of Progress: An Inquiry into Its Origin and Growth

Bury, J B

ISBN 10: 9390439914 / ISBN 13: 9789390439911

Published by Writat, 2021

About this Item

Seller Inventory # I-9789390439911

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Idea of Progress: An Inquiry into Its Origin and Growth
• Publisher: Writat
• Publication Date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 9390439914
• ISBN 13: 9789390439911
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

We may believe in the doctrine of Progress or we may not, but in either case it is a matter of interest to examine the origins and trace the history of what is now, even should it ultimately prove to be no more than an idolum saeculi, the animating and controlling idea of western civilisation. For the earthly Progress of humanity is the general test to which social aims and theories are submitted as a matter of course. The phrase CIVILISATION AND PROGRESS has become stereotyped, and illustrates how we have come to judge a civilisation good or bad according as it is or is not progressive. The ideals of liberty and democracy, which have their own ancient and independent justifications, have sought a new strength by attaching themselves to Progress. The conjunctions of "liberty and progress," "democracy and progress," meet us at every turn. Socialism, at an early stage of its modern development, sought the same aid. The friends of Mars, who cannot bear the prospect of perpetual peace, maintain that war is an indispensable instrument of Progress. It is in the name of Progress that the doctrinaires who established the present reign of terror in Russia profess to act. All this shows the prevalent feeling that a social or political theory or programme is hardly tenable if it cannot claim that it harmonises with this controlling idea.

About the Author

John Bagnell Bury, FBA was an Anglo-Irish historian, classical scholar, Medieval Roman historian and philologist. He objected to the label "Byzantinist" explicitly in the preface to the 1889 edition of his Later Roman Empire. He was Erasmus Smith's Professor of Modern History at Trinity College Dublin (1893-1902), before being Regius Professor of Modern History at the University of Cambridge from 1902 until his death.