The Identity Theft of Progress

Morning Thoughts #57

As we live in the self-proclaimed "age of science," let me propose a thought experiment: What if, unbeknownst to us, we are actually experiencing the onset of a new age of Luddism? What if our level of technology is regressing, despite us living in the digital age? It may seem counterintuitive, but allow me to explain. The invention of new technology doesn't necessarily equate to the invention of better technology. It is possible that the constant stream of novelty generated by today's technological realm serves as a facade, concealing any true progress. Consider car redesigns as an example: How often do "new models" released in a given year merely consist of a sleeker exterior design and a few added gadgets to the dashboard? The fundamental mechanics of motor vehicles have remained largely unchanged for many decades (except, of course, for advancements in electric vehicle technology). What if a similar phenomenon is occurring throughout our entire culture, encompassing not only science and technology but also extending beyond those realms?

The greatest enemies of real progress may be those who most ardently support the development of material comforts (and entertainments), particularly in the realm of technology. Winning the technological lottery by being born in this age (defined here as the 1960s and beyond), we acted much like many lottery winners: we embarked on an uncontrollable spending spree! In our case, the spree took the form of invention and adaptation, and now we find ourselves dangerously close to depleting our inherited surplus on frivolities and superficialities. Even the communication revolution, which epitomizes the progress of the digital age, is increasingly deceptive (think of the bots!). We are rapidly depleting the energy and ambition amassed through generations of meticulous research and scientific discovery. If one set out to impede human progress intentionally, it would make perfect sense to advocate for short-term overexpenditure of this nature.

Oh, friends, my assessment is this: at some point in the recent past, we turned away from real human progress and began moving backward. However, we took a different path than the one we came from, so the path still appears unfamiliar and creates the illusion of continuous advancement. But alas, I suspect we are taking an indirect route back to the caves!

The fact that there is now an entire class of people (mostly the ruling managerial class!) proudly identifying themselves as "believers in science" is the most telling sign that a subtle form of Luddism has deceptively seized control of our current age. The type of science that boasts fully committed believers is the kind that has degraded itself into something capable of being believed in. It is a sad husk of the scientific method, reduced to scientific doctrine.

If you are sometimes a sentimental proto-Luddite like myself, you might find yourself asking: is this truly such a terrible thing? I must confess that I often feel more at ease in the woods near civilization than in any city! However, what if our aversion to the technological progress of today stems from an unconscious understanding that such "progress" is actually no progress at all? What if something profoundly anti-human and anti-life has stripped genuine progress of its essence and now masquerades as progress itself? If that is the case, the great tragedy of our era is the theft of progress's identity! It would imply a clandestine abandonment of human aspiration. And to me, it appears highly likely that we are currently living amidst a deceptive form of Luddism that aims to eradicate the very possibility of humanity itself! (Not, it should be noted, the eradication of physical human beings, but rather the eradication of the distinction between humanity and mere "animal" existence.)

We find ourselves at a strange historical juncture. As a society, we have rejected the God of the past while also pausing our journey towards the Gods of the future. I argue that without either one as our origin story or goal, we are at risk of losing our human identity altogether. Humanity—defined by either being children of the Gods or as the creators of higher tomorrows—is what sets us apart. Any creature that aspires beyond itself, beyond mere comfort, pleasure, and orderly reproduction, to something greater, transcends mere animality. Unfortunately, the modern world no longer encourages us to act in alignment with what we inherently know to be true. We may claim to still uphold this truth, but our actions often betray us as its traitors. We fear the heights we could reach. Those who have assumed control, self-proclaimed experts, proudly display their credentials as "knowers of the way," when in reality, they only know the path downward.

Paradoxically, when humanity fully embraces its animal origins, a path towards progress unfolds.  Understanding that we abide by the same rules as animals imparts the knowledge needed to devise strategies to manipulate these rules for our ultimate benefit. Yes, humanity truly aspiring to transcend its animal origins must first accept itself as an animal and then wield the knowledge inherent in such acceptance with courage. However, my friends, we have halted halfway. As I mentioned earlier, we have rejected God in both directions, past and future. The deceivers in marketing departments everywhere want us to believe that we can strive for nothing more than animal comforts and animal pleasures while still considering ourselves to be something entirely distinct from and superior to mere animals. What a falsehood! Our bodies, our organic matter, do not differentiate us from any other earthly creature. It is something intangible, entirely immaterial, that sets us apart—the Shakespeares and Napoleons in our lineage! The poetry, psalms, heroic aspirations, and the heights of love! Spare me your claim that my life will be fulfilled by your new luxury sofa!

Promoting "science" as a form of divinity ultimately deprives humanity of the drive to attain any genuine divinity for itself. The ideology embraced by today's "believers in science" betrays nothing more than a cowardly dogmatism. They strip away our once-assured supernatural origins and then behave as though animalistic humanity inherently possesses what distinguishes us from the animal kingdom (as if it were an innate characteristic that can never be relinquished), rather than recognizing it as potential—a potential that can only be realized if we are humble enough to acknowledge our animal forefathers as a starting point and certainly not a destination. We must work, dream, and grow, and only then can we fondly look back and celebrate those "fur fathers" of ours!