You write that the “accumulation of liberties leads to institutionalization of liberty, which leads to generalized increased returns, which leads to human progress.”
“History doesn’t move in one giant leap. It moves in little marginal steps.” You see these small victories where various oppressed groups are able to push back the oppressor and gain some space for themselves."
Peter......I think that for MOST of human evolution we were not even aware of progress as a concept , let alone a reality ! "Our" entire existence was one of a brutal , short-lived struggle , mostly against a hostile planet which was very accomplished at disposing of MOST living creatures , many of the other predatory living creatures , diseases and the perpetual pursuit of food and shelter ! I think that the major "oppressor" was in fact the contrary-named "Mother Nature" ! I imagine that the acquired knowledge was painfully gathered and mostly from the mistakes of others , as in , is this fungus safe to eat ? If the person who tried it died and you successfully avoided it , then that became part of the accumulated knowledge which you could share with others . Volcanoes , hot springs and fires would have provided an interesting impetus in many ways ! So , social interaction would allow more knowledge sharing , better survival and more safety ! That is mere conjecture on my part , but there had to be enough survivors to carry on the ancestral-line , so one does attempt to rationalise how that miracle occurred !.....Eventually , Modernity dawned ! It is such a recent phenomenon that people are still adjusting to having wealth , health , prosperity , possessions , longevity , food and drink and rights !
Since "we" have now , for all intents and purposes , gained mastery over the planet and curtailed it's propensity for killing "us" , due to some magnificent inventions and innovations , and tamed that 'constant oppressor' , you would imagine that from now on it would be easy and all plain sailing ! And yet the younger generations are taking it all for granted on the one-hand while much of it is being legislated-away on the other ! They hold such great promise but many exhibit such rapacious and unjustifiable expectations , resentment towards their forebears and ignorance and confusion about how and why they arrived at this point of time ! Some gratitude would be a fine thing !! Perhaps when "they inherit" !!?
We have now created "our own" SUPERIOR "REPLACEMENT OPPRESSOR" to "Mother Nature" !!
I have long held an abhorrence of bureaucracy and their almost endless "lawfare" and their devious curtailing of "our" rights and freedoms .....and their insatiable appetites for "other people's money and possessions" ....that they seem to perceive as their right to purloin......and if not.......there is always more legislation to fix that little problem !
Rather than gaining greater FREEDOM and DEVELOPMENT , I fear that "we" have plateaued ,
both socially and as a species , because "we" appear to be stunned and paralysed [ like a rabbit at night in the spotlight ! ] and moribund ! "We" are living on HOPE ........and PROMISES of a better future ......but the actions do not match the words unfortunately ! False promises perhaps ?
Even as "we" get wealthier [ materially] and live longer "we" seem to have lost the plot !
I hope that I am proven wrong and that I have been unduly pessimistic........which is a strange
thing for an optimist to concede ! .......But...that's how it seems to me ! Regards , Trevor.
You write that the “accumulation of liberties leads to institutionalization of liberty, which leads to generalized increased returns, which leads to human progress.”
“History doesn’t move in one giant leap. It moves in little marginal steps.” You see these small victories where various oppressed groups are able to push back the oppressor and gain some space for themselves."
Peter......I think that for MOST of human evolution we were not even aware of progress as a concept , let alone a reality ! "Our" entire existence was one of a brutal , short-lived struggle , mostly against a hostile planet which was very accomplished at disposing of MOST living creatures , many of the other predatory living creatures , diseases and the perpetual pursuit of food and shelter ! I think that the major "oppressor" was in fact the contrary-named "Mother Nature" ! I imagine that the acquired knowledge was painfully gathered and mostly from the mistakes of others , as in , is this fungus safe to eat ? If the person who tried it died and you successfully avoided it , then that became part of the accumulated knowledge which you could share with others . Volcanoes , hot springs and fires would have provided an interesting impetus in many ways ! So , social interaction would allow more knowledge sharing , better survival and more safety ! That is mere conjecture on my part , but there had to be enough survivors to carry on the ancestral-line , so one does attempt to rationalise how that miracle occurred !.....Eventually , Modernity dawned ! It is such a recent phenomenon that people are still adjusting to having wealth , health , prosperity , possessions , longevity , food and drink and rights !
Since "we" have now , for all intents and purposes , gained mastery over the planet and curtailed it's propensity for killing "us" , due to some magnificent inventions and innovations , and tamed that 'constant oppressor' , you would imagine that from now on it would be easy and all plain sailing ! And yet the younger generations are taking it all for granted on the one-hand while much of it is being legislated-away on the other ! They hold such great promise but many exhibit such rapacious and unjustifiable expectations , resentment towards their forebears and ignorance and confusion about how and why they arrived at this point of time ! Some gratitude would be a fine thing !! Perhaps when "they inherit" !!?
We have now created "our own" SUPERIOR "REPLACEMENT OPPRESSOR" to "Mother Nature" !!
I have long held an abhorrence of bureaucracy and their almost endless "lawfare" and their devious curtailing of "our" rights and freedoms .....and their insatiable appetites for "other people's money and possessions" ....that they seem to perceive as their right to purloin......and if not.......there is always more legislation to fix that little problem !
Rather than gaining greater FREEDOM and DEVELOPMENT , I fear that "we" have plateaued ,
both socially and as a species , because "we" appear to be stunned and paralysed [ like a rabbit at night in the spotlight ! ] and moribund ! "We" are living on HOPE ........and PROMISES of a better future ......but the actions do not match the words unfortunately ! False promises perhaps ?
Even as "we" get wealthier [ materially] and live longer "we" seem to have lost the plot !
I hope that I am proven wrong and that I have been unduly pessimistic........which is a strange
thing for an optimist to concede ! .......But...that's how it seems to me ! Regards , Trevor.