Rethinking Progress: Is it Time for a new lens?

Progress has turned into something of an oxymoron: a notion of change for the better or change for convenience that often stems from linear thinking. It's a step forward, yes, but without initially assessing the bridge's conditions and considering its long-term stability. In many ways, progress has become a short-term fix, substantiated by ease and convenience, creating fertile ground for commercialisation. Capitalism propels rapid adoption and widespread diffusion of this "progress." The adoption of new innovations isn't negative; in fact, it's an admirable trait of a capitalist society.

However, this also creates a kind of catch-22. Capitalism generates work and distributes wealth. In the modern day, work has become a new form of survival of the fittest – in the past, we hunted to provide, now we work. The premise of survival hasn't fundamentally changed, but it has evolved into a more sophisticated and intricate dynamic. Thus, when considering the moral and best course of action, broader considerations are essential.

In many ways, society is an apparatus that invites trouble, having transformed into a complex web of interconnectedness and reliability. In the past, we functioned in tribes with forms of trade, but a tribe's reliability wasn't interconnected for its survival.

An example of this change can best be observed through our Food systems have undergone significant transformations. We no longer have local produce on our doorstep for sustenance; instead, we've developed an interconnected and inter-reliable relationship with food. We've outsourced much of what once made us self-reliant, creating a relationship of interdependency. While this relationship brings benefits, it also makes us prisoners, as we can't easily free ourselves from it.

This impact becomes evident in Russia's conflict with Ukraine. The conflict has gained an influential all-encompassing position due to our inclination to outsource economic activities that we consider less economically rewarding, such as the cultivation of essential ingredients like grain, corn, and other basic food products. This highlights the peril of outsourcing crucial components tied to our fundamental human needs. Consequently, this fosters interdependency, a connection that frequently results in catch-22 situations. Although these arrangements might make economic sense and provide short-term benefits to communities, they also harbour the potential for unfavourable consequences.

In broader terms, various methods can be deployed. Of course, rebuilding local capacity for essential production and diversifying supply chains can create more options and reduce dependence on any one country.

Events and innovations will inherently circle back, and most advancements will generate significant challenges down the line. This is rooted in humanity's inclination to be "clever" and to build on man-made foundations, rather than those found in nature. We should seek to understand and replicate from nature, fostering a mindful relationship with it and its systems. This isn’t to say we shouldn’t innovate, star gaze and seek to create a more technologically advanced society but it is a question of balance, sight and appetite.?

Nonetheless, a shift in how we perceive progress could be a starting point, leading to greater consideration of potential challenges. This shift is already underway, evident in businesses addressing ESG-related shortcomings, the United Nations' sustainable development goals, and the focus on sustainability in economic activity.

Perhaps progress needs an adjustment in our daily discourse. It might be time to move beyond just "Progress" and evolve it into two distinct categories: "Sustainable Progress" and "Unsustainable Progress." This way, we can ensure long-term thinking and consideration in our definition of progress. I suggest this because there is strategic value in unsustainable progress, but it should be treated as a stepping stone toward longer-term sustainable solutions. Many of today's issues stem from "convenience-driven progress" and its economic consequences. This returns to the idea of blind belief and the failure to question the long-term implications. If we label something as "unsustainable progress," acknowledging its short-term nature, we would ensure that everything stemming from it could transition more smoothly, with reduced interdependency. The ultimate goal should be to focus on "Sustainable Progress," fuelling society's advancement while cultivating a more aware and measured society. Our society should seek to build on strong sustainable foundations, rather than unsustainable rickety bridges.

If we are to truly advance then there must be a fundamental reimagining of our relationship with progress, necessitating a transformative shift in our perception through a new lens.