HAVE HUMAN CIVILISATION PROGRESSED OVER CENTURIES?-by N.S.Venkataraman
While discussing about the progress of civilization, the question arises as to what should be the criteria for evaluating the progress or otherwise of civilization.
Should civilization assessment be made on the basis of progress of science and technology , development of equipment and facilities for ensuring comfort living , advancement in medical science that now successfully treat what was once considered as terminal illness?
Alternately, should civilization be evaluated on the basis of the betterment of thought process and tolerance amongst the humans ?
While technology advancement and consequent betterment of life style comforts as well as communication facilities have certainly , steadily and progressively happened , the ground reality is that such material advancements have not resulted in improvement in human happiness index. In such case, one has to conclude that the various material advancements which are supposed to contribute to improve human happiness index , have no real impact on human behavior..
In such conditions , it is appropriate to consider that the criteria for assessment of the progress of civilization should be the progress in the thought process and outlook of humans. When considering such criteria, it becomes clearly evident that human civilization over the centuries have not progressed at all and virtually remain stagnant .
Historically, it has been seen and as described in several epic stories , human life in the past have been marked by war , crimes, jealousy , hate feelings , vengeance , one upmanship, and so on. Today, similar conditions continue to remain at the same level. The reasons mentioned for conflicts and war , physical violence in the past are the same reasons that are now attributed for such despicable behavior of humans, with violence and conflicts at the national and individual level almost have become the order of the day.
Many religious texts that have evolved over the last several centuries , stressing the need for love and compassion have not changed the behavior of humans in the past and appears to have no visible impact and influence over human activities in the present day today life as well. The same religious texts and preachings that existed in the past continue to be there at the present time also with no visible improvement in the mental make up of humans.
The reasons that caused World War I or World War II are nearly the same reasons that have caused the ongoing Russia – Ukraine war or USA/Israel – Iran war. This obviously indicate that the world remain conflict ridden all the time both in the past and at present , with the same level of intensity.
In the historical time as well as at the present time, there have been no dearth of peace advocates and good people calling for giving up the negative behavior. However, these people are very few and far between then and now and have no visible impact in shaping the human civilization.
Sophisticated arms are being developed and every nation is strengthening the defence forces either to attack or to defend , which only reflect the fact that no one believe that the world would get rid of violence and hate feelings at any time. . Just like the nations, individuals also all the time suffer from feeling of insecurity and want to strengthen themselves in one way or the other to face the eventualities , that would be caused in a scenario of faithlessness and mutual suspicion.
Any hope that humans would attain the desirable level of progress in civilization appear to be a Utopian and far fetched vision.
