by John B. Bury
About this book
John B. Bury's groundbreaking inquiry into the idea of progress reveals how one of civilization's most powerful concepts came to shape Western thought and society. In this illuminating historical analysis, Bury traces the origins and evolution of progress from its earliest philosophical roots through the modern era, examining how this animating ideal transformed everything from politics and science to social reform movements.
Unlike the medieval worldview that looked toward salvation in the afterlife, the modern Western mind increasingly oriented itself toward earthly advancement and human improvement. Bury explores how thinkers like Condorcet, Comte, and Spencer championed this doctrine, and how progress became the lens through which we judge civilizations themselves. He investigates the profound connections between progress and concepts like liberty, democracy, and socialism, revealing how the idea permeates contemporary ideologies and cultural movements.
This psychology and history masterwork asks essential questions: Is progress merely an illusion of our age, or a genuine force driving human development? How did a philosophical concept become civilization's controlling principle? Written by the renowned Regius Professor of Modern History at Cambridge, Bury's meticulous scholarship offers both historical depth and philosophical insight.
Perfect for listeners interested in intellectual history, the philosophy of civilization, or understanding the ideological foundations of modern society, this audiobook provides indispensable context for anyone seeking to grasp how humanity came to believe in the possibility of perpetual improvement.
