Do you consider civilization to be "progressive" or "circular"?

[zanana]

I know there are better words to describe what I mean, but I'll explain; Do you think human beings get wiser and more compassionate with time or do we have cycles of progressive thought and cycless of regressive thought? I used to think it was progressive, but now I think back to when I was a little kid in the 50's, and it seems we're feeling the weight of repression, just like the oppression of McCarthyism. Any thought? (I hope this makes sense).

[seito]

1. circular

We never learn. We have to repeat the same mistakes generation after generation.

[tanyev]

2. 5-10 years ago I would have said progressive.

Current events are making me lean the other way now.

[McKenzie]

3. it should be linear/progressive imvho

Let's assume that all species get those attributes that ensure their survival. We have to ask what purpose love, compassion and all the other character traits that are not necessary for today's world serve.

I have a hunch that if we lived in a way that allowed those traits to flower we'd make the next evolutionary leap. That leap is in the brain methinks, because there is a great lump of it that we don't use as far as we can tell. So why is it there and how can it be unlocked?

I think moving away from aggression and competition, the traits that were necessary early on in our development, could be the key. I have no empirical evidence for that contention, just a hunch (how scientific McKenzie...lol).

One thing is sure, if we keep on going the way we are headed it will be a circular phenomenon...and the circles will get smaller and smaller. We're doing something wrong imo, and it has halted our development.

I will now slink off in case I get laughed at...

[cornfedyank]

22. i think there are evolutionary deadends..we sure look like one

i don't think that one can assume that "all species get those attributes that ensure their survival."

on edit: i have long wondered which way we were headed. Star Trek or Soylent Green. Tuesday is not far. IMHO

[leanin_green]

4. Spiral.

All energy moves in a spiral. So, although it seems that we are repeating things, we are only seeing them from a different point on the spiral. McCarthyism has given way to what they see as the new face of evil, Liberalism. Same energy, different mask. So, in essence, this is part of the same energetic spiral created by the same like-minded people from the inception of this country. As it weaves it's way throughout the fabric of our American consciousness, it finds new conduits that channel this energetic stream in whatever timeline they find themselves in. All is vanity, there is nothing new under the sun.

[htuttle]

13. Yup, spiral

History doesn't repeat itself, but it rhymes.
-- Mark Twain

[leanin_green]

18. "All these things that I do ye shall do also, and greater things."

[Just Me]

14. OMG! I can't believe you posted my first thought.

I view humanity as progressing in a forward circular-like fashion: a spiral.

Fascinating that someone else has that kind of visual perspective.

[leanin_green]

17. Try this site, it'll get your juices going.

It's full of these kind of thoughts, with great science to back it up.

http://www.ascension2000.com

[NC_Nurse]

5. Both.

I hope that the progressive outweighs the regressive overall. They are both in force at all times. It's a constant pull between fear of change and risk to gain something better. We shall see....

[DETERMINEDPROGRESIVE]

6. I consider civilization to be Ignorant..

Is that wrong of me? :)

[Pithlet]

7. I believe it is progressive, but

It doesn't always move forward at a consistent pace, and sometimes backtracks.

[PowerToThePeople]

8. organic

Like a tree. Progressives want to grow and mature into a "great" tree, like the sequoias in Cali. The repukes are constantly trying to cut us down/trim us. Either clipping branches to stop further growth or attacking the root system if we grow too much. We are having to fight on all fronts which makes true growth very difficult.

[Ms. Clio]

9. cyclical n/t

[u4ic]

10. I don't know if I can describe this properly

but I see society as a balancing act. Polar opposites are the driving force...tolerance, love, humanity, etc on one side, and greed, power, corruption, war, etc on the other.

Most of us aren't at the opposite ends...we're somewhere in between. The polar opposites feed off each other...especially the power side, as when the progressive side is tipped too far in it's favour (which also incorporates free will), they try to tip it to their favour, using fear and anger to control, and the progressive side then uses the misdeeds of the regressive side to further it's cause. And on it goes.

I think it's a delicate balance...and I do think most of us actually lean towards the progressive side...but the other side, though smaller, is much more vocal, organized and adamant.

I hope it makes sense...

[K-W]

11. progressive, patterns will naturally result

but it is not cyclical

[Taxloss]

12. Human beings don't change

But civilisation is the accumulated sum of all human achievements, so it naturally improves. Minus some catastrophic collapse, it will continue to improve.

[not systems]

15. Neither because the world is a chaotic system...

thus human society and each human life is also.

We make advances and we regress based on non-cyclical events.

We have no trajectory toward a better future although
one has happened in many ways because of human action and ideals.

The creation of the idea of universal human rights for example.

Different eras are echoed in current times but that just because
the range of human action is somewhat limited.

I agree that we are in a time of oppression but it is not
part of some predetermined cycle.

The future is unwritten.

[AgadorSparticus]

16. i would say it was more cyclical. no matter how much we "advance",

the same trials and tribulations of human nature still haunts us as a civilization. for example, for all our advances in technology and information, we still lack the conscience, character, integrity, etc. to guide us in our actions. the same arrogance, egotism, greed, and avarice still afflicts our leaders as it did with all the leaders of fallen civilizations in the past.

but overall, we may go back and forth between moving forward and going backwards, but in the bigger scheme of things, we are very much the same as always.....

[Greybnk48]

19. I think the Holocaust

put the kybosh on any idea that humans were progressively becoming more and more enlightened on a linear model. Sadly, history repeats. On an upnote, we can hope we are slowly spiraling upward to enlightenment.

[mopinko]

20. read "nonzero" by robert wright

who also wrote "the moral animal"
very interesting stuff. i agree with him that, although there are loops and twists, the overall direction of human history is toward a more complex, and ever more integrated society. (just reading It now, tho.)

i think that eventually the wastefulness of war will become clear to us humans, and we will give it up. although right now we seem mired in our worst impulses, i don't think that violence has ever been rejected by so many people. and i think that the ridiculous lengths that the shitheads have HAD TO go to to sell this war proves it.

[bloom]

21. Since we are destroying more species by the day...

finding ways to kill in increasing numbers....

becoming more estranged and mentally ill....

I think we are going backwards.

[Dark]

23. Overall progressive, but circular in small eras. Spiraling upwards. n/t

[tishaLA]

24. Neither.

It is more or less arbitrary.