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Apr 20, 2026
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CNX 178 - Progress and Its Critics
Description
This course begins with a question: why should we expect life to be better tomorrow than it is today? The idea of progress is embedded in Western life and thought; it informs our politics, economic decisions, educational pursuits, religious beliefs, and personal relationships. We take progress for granted. Even if we are cynical about the future, we still believe our children’s lives should be more prosperous, easier, and fulfilling than ours. Why is this? On what grounds do we hold these expectations? Is progress a natural thing? Does if make us freer? We will begin our exploration of progress by considering its historical roots in the Renaissance, Age of Exploration, Scientific Revolution, and the Enlightenment. Much of our time will be taken up with the words and actions of contemporary critics. Who are these people, and why do they oppose what most of us believe is progress in diverse areas such as medicine, technology, consumer culture, education, and human rights?
Credits: 1
Course Attribute(s):
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