Defining Progress Debate

Comments debate the meaning, direction, and inherent value of 'progress', questioning whether it is always positive, linear, or universally agreed upon.

📉 Falling 0.5x Politics & Society
3,136
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#9721
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2007
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Keywords

FSD progress progressive direction advancement specific empirical pedantic laws goal inevitable

Sample Comments

collyw Apr 8, 2017 View on HN

"Progress" isn't necessarily positive.

WhyOhWhyQ Dec 16, 2025 View on HN

Makes you wonder what's really meant when we talk about progress.

tsotha Sep 29, 2015 View on HN

Not everyone agrees on what constitutes progress.

atemerev Mar 17, 2016 View on HN

What's wrong with that? This is called "progress".

trevyn Dec 6, 2019 View on HN

Beware the perception of progress as an unmitigated good.

potatoman22 Jan 15, 2025 View on HN

Why? Past progress =/= equal rate of future progress.

prometheus76 Apr 28, 2021 View on HN

Change is progress! And progress is good! Please don't ask what we're progressing towards though. That's just rude.

pjmlp May 15, 2013 View on HN

We have a different opinion what progress means, it seems.

greglindahl Jul 2, 2018 View on HN

Yeah, that's how progress happens.

bjhoops1 Dec 13, 2012 View on HN

yes good point - "progress" isn't quite single-dimensional. :)