The Difference Between Progress Traps and Real Progress
The way the human brain is specialized has encouraged many people to experiment with progressions, which are both powerful and self-destructing at the same time (In Adams, 2013). Ronald Wright believes that even with the progressions, which are brought about by civilization some of the progressions are severe and could lead to what is known as progress traps. For instance, the invention of the atomic bomb is one of the most severe progress trap. The atomic bomb is capable of destroying the entire human species. Also, simpler progressions such as the invention of farming and perfection of hunting have seduced and ruined the society as well (In Adams, 2013). Perhaps, civilization has made human beings to become vulnerable species in that they have continuously found themselves in the uncertainty that comes with progress traps. For that reason, it is imperative to discuss the difference between progress traps and real progress as illustrated by Wright. Why civilization can also be referred to as a pyramid of the scheme.
Real Progress and its Difference from Progress Trap
By definition, real progress is a condition or state in which growth is experienced by human beings. Real progress is different from progress trap because the latter is associated with technology, which produces good results at the beginning but will eventually lead human species into the impossible and deadly end (Wright, 2012). For example, the invention of weapons was meant for better food supply. The bronze knife, flint arrow, rifle, and long-bow were all invented with the objective of improving farming. However, with the introduction of new weapons, game animals have been hunted to extinction. Moreover, the results of the weaponry improvement are the invention of the hydrogen bomb. According to Wright, the whole idea about progress in civilization is a trap.
Progress in Technology and its Internal Logic
Progress in technology has an element of internal logic that can go beyond reasonable catastrophe. It is possible that the story about the Garden of Eden had its roots from Mesopotamia. This was the period when people used to cut down trees from the forest with the objective of plowing the ground for farming. Little did they know that they were stripping the resilience of the earth. As a result, rains brought about soil erosion, which resulted in legendary flash floods, including Noah’s flood. Wright states that human beings had no option but to move out of the Garden of Eden and they have continued to do so by building their trap. Wright continues to emphasize on how human beings have created their nests by giving an example of the short-lived Ur BC Empire. People have failed to change social practices and beliefs to adapt to the ever-changing living conditions.
Concentrating on Real Progress for a Sustainable Society
Perhaps, the human race should concentrate on real progress and not progress, which can lead to a trap. When the wealth of water, woods, and land is properly maintained that is what is referred to as real progress. Woods are the keepers of water, and they should be long lasting for civilization’s success and survival. In the previous centuries, refugees from the failed civilization had the option of moving to other places and starting new life again. However, the current situation does not allow that. Nowadays, civilization has gone global. People cannot flee away if civilization fails. We do not have Planet B. Maybe; the society is not doomed as such. The solution to failed civilization is the adoption of measures that promote real progress. The society can learn from the cultural practices, which failed the civilizations of Egypt and China. In that case, people gain knowledge through previous experience and therefore, have the opportunity of avoiding the same fate.
The Short-lived Nature of Progress and Civilization
Like progress trap, real progress is determined by time, which has proven to be short. In that case, it is upon the society to prove that civilization is not a progress trap as it has been profound by most of the cultural practices. The society have the means and tools to make civilization become real progress. Members of the society can clean up pollution, share resources, control birth, dispense basic health, and set economic limits depending on the availability of natural resources (Wright, 2012). Wright also advised that if the humanity do not do things the right way at the right time, humanity would never achieve real progress but progress trap.
Civilization as a Pyramid Scheme
Wright refers to Civilization as a pyramid scheme because the society is going in the direction where there will be no more environmental sustainability (2012). Regarding pyramid scheme, the originators are always the top participators while the new and successive participants found themselves at the lower position of the scheme. The newcomers pour in money while the structure of the scheme funnels it towards the top. However, if the scheme stop to expand due to the low number of new participants, the structure of the pyramid scheme will eventually collapse. In that case, the result is not positive. People who are closer to the top become more prosperous while those who are at the bottom remain poorer than they were before. The same way pyramid scheme is structured is how civilization has been for many years. Anything that is related to civilization is always unstable.
The Unsustainable Consumption and the Consequences
Moreover, the society has continued to create new standards of living that cannot be passed to the next generation. People are getting rich with the option of depleting the available natural resources – arable land, fish, rivers, forests, hydrocarbons, and water (Wright, 2012). People have been grabbing these resources without generating renewable flows. The lifestyle of consumers also relies on the use of unsustainable resources and the reliance will not continue forever. Just like how the pyramid scheme operates, people who arrive late will find nothing to benefit them. For that reason, if the society is not careful children of the next generation will suffer the consequences that come with civilization. They are the people who will inherit the world that is devastated by climate change. They will have to survive a world that is robbed of its resources. Every new generation will have to experience the dramatic change of lifestyles, which will eventually result in the collapse of civilization.
The Importance of Environmental Sustainability in Progress
The concept about progress with the inclusion of the betterment of humankind requires careful consideration. The society must pay attention to the environmental limits. After all, the needs of the future generation should be the integral elements, which drive real progress for humanity. In that case, promotion of green building is a sterling example of systems, which promote real progress. Therefore, our civilization will not be in the midst of falling in the progress trap. According to the Victorian definition, ideal progress is similar to green building, which is determined by sound ecological principles, awareness of the humanity connection, long-term thinking, and embracing transformational and sustainable principles. Despite the alarming events of the 21st century, the majority of people from the western culture still promote the Victorian definition of real progress. This implies that ideas regarding material progress are just recent news. Perhaps, news of the past three hundred years ago. Material progress coincides with the rise of industry and science. It is comparable to the decline of the traditional beliefs.
The Role of Leadership and Learning from Past Mistakes
Also, bearing in mind the global impact of the resource consumption, carbon emission, and building industry on energy, quality leadership is equally important. Victorian definition claims that human still has the advantage of making the ideal progress real. Humanity have the advantage of learning from the mistakes made by the people who were involved in the past civilizations. In that case, members of the society still have time in finding solutions to factors, which results in progress trap. It is just a matter of acting quickly when there are still favorable conditions.
The Avoidance of Falling into the Progress Trap
The ideology that civilization is in the midst of the biggest trap is real. Consider agriculture as an example; people have been cutting down trees to look for available land for farming. What they do not know is that most of the woods in the forest act as the water catchment. However, there is still hopes on how to avoid falling into the progress trap.
The Importance of Better Accounting to Avoid Progress Traps
Feasibly, the best solution to progress traps is a better accounting. This help with the evaluation of the costs of bright ideas, both benefits, and consequences. In the previous years of civilization, people were only concerned about the catches and not the remaining stocks. In that case, humanity did not know whether there were more stocks than what the lake or the sea can produce. Moreover, industries, which produce paper are only concerned with the value of the wood and the quality of papers it can produce. They do not want to understand that the trees are also part of the forest, which is a carbon sink, a habitat, and a defense against corrosion (Wright, 2012). Civilization will be a progress trap if the society only allows that. The human race has the ability and knowledge to switch from short-term thoughts to long-term thoughts. Humanity can free itself from the intellectual traps. Therefore, if the humanity cannot take advantage of the quality brains that members of the society have, then there will be no time to provide solutions to progress trap. The fate to real progress will be twisted, as the society will be ushering the new age of chaos and collapse.
A Call for Environmental Sustainability with Real Progress
In conclusion, humanity must be interested in the direction it is taking. Let’s not just encourage the ripping of short-term benefit of the resources but also consider sustainability. After all, human beings are always driven by the passion and thirst of moving forward. They always want to improve and make progress in life. They are very optimistic and will always strive to find faster, stronger, and better ways of doing things. Ultimately, humans must make progress but at what costs. Is it the expenses of pondering the world’s natural resources? Can humanity achieve progress in a way that it promotes environmental sustainability? When the society is moving forward, human beings must move forward as a society. Civilization has gone global, and people should not be left behind. This will still depend on the better understanding of the difference between real progress and progress trap.
References
In Adams, M. (2013). Readings for diversity and social justice.
Wright, R. (2012). A short history of progress. Vancouver, BC: Crane Library.
