If you can't even manage to force your own presumably democratic governments to allow you to do good things for yourselves, then you probably deserve to become extinct. If human beings are to continue living on this planet we must first ask permission from the things which surround us in nature. When we see signs of discontent from the other beings around us, the air, water, plants and soil as we are seeing now, how can we be so arrogant as to disregard the input of the things that sustain us in life. If progress is the global pursuit of profit, where does this capital come from in an ecologically bankrupt world, but from our very souls. Progress involves self sacrifice for the benefit of others.
Progress involves self sacrifice or the benefit of others.
I think that the attainment of human potential and the pursuit of a state of being that is in touch with nature and other beings, human and non-human, in harmony and respect, is a true sign of progress. I also think that freedom to pursue one's own interests, intellectual or entrepreneurial or otherwise, is a big step forward for the human race. As of now, I think we spend too much time on jobs that are often alienating,if not brutalizing. We need to reduce that and to reduce our needs, if we want to reclaim our humanity. Developing a more sustainable role for humans on this earth will be the final yardstick by which we measure our progress.