@A Light Shining In Darkness

Now that I know by what metrics you are using I can actually ask a real question 😁, and comment responsibly.

I do agree with you. As a humanitarian 'how we treat each other' is very important to me. How we treat the planet is very important as well because the planet is our home and currently other options are not available.

I can look at the way our society, especially in the United States currently and be pessimistic. Though, I do not feel that warrants the blanket statement that civilization has made no progress in the last 2000 years. Maybe I am wrong? Let us discuss it and see were we arrive at.

The way I see it. In the days of Socrates (around 400 BC) and for many centuries to come education was a right of the rich, those that could afford the time away from just trying to survive and often monetary commitments as well. In fact not more than a century ago the majority of the world was still illiterate. Taking the time to learn to read and write was just not cost productive to those just trying to survive. I believe today education, globally is far more accessible. There are many programs to help the impoverished gain an education. These programs did not exist 2000 years ago. They exist today mainly by humanitarian efforts. Is this not progress?

In the past access to medicine was strictly available to those that could afford it. Though access to medicine and health care has advanced more quickly than education. We all know of doctors in the past the worked for chickens, and homemade meals quite literally 😉. Yes, medicine and health care have taken a great decline in the United States though other countries that have adopted a one payer system now have the greatest availability to healthcare ever in history, including 2000 years ago. Is that not progress?

It is easy to see the negative affects of our societies as that is what the media pushes at us daily. Though do not forget that today people are fighting for better standards. Today we are making progress in shifting from consumable energy to renewable. We are correcting pollution issues that we have created by our ignorance and greed. For instance was you aware that in the age of the coal fueled steam vessels. These vessels would just dump used ash into the ocean? It was not because they did not care. It just seemed rational to them that there was so much ocean what would a little ash do? We have the answers to that now and we do not approve of such actions. We have people that step up and stand against those in our society that have nefarious intent. Is this not progress?

No, society (global civilization) will never be perfect. Though I do not think it is fair to make a blanket statement like 'there have been no improvements in civilization in 2000 years' because I believe there have been many improvements. Do not get me wrong I can certainly identify with your perspective when I see how some factions of our societies choose to behave. Especially in the United States today. I believe it is important to remember that we have achieved a lot. If we want to continue progressing then we need to address the areas where we still need improvement but not feel defeated in the idea that we have not and thusfore cannot and will not be able to progress. I know you did not explicitly say we cannot progress, yet one could easily implicitly arrive at that conclusion based on your statement, could they not?

I am happy to hear that you value humanitarian ideals. I hope you become less jaded and more active in changing what you can. It is often more than what we believe we have the power to do. For instance just changing our perspective from 'there has been no progress in civilization if 2000 years' to 'there has been progress but we need more and I am going to be a part of that change' will immediately have an effect on your life and what effects your life effects those that are part of your life. Keep in mind that it is not just misery that loves company. Happiness does to. It just depends on what company you want to keep.