The Idea of Progress: History and Society

accept action advance appeared arts basic become belief better British capitalist causes century civilization Comte concerned consists continuous countries course created culture decline derived determinism direction doctrine doubt earlier economic economists Enlightenment environment Europe evolution example existence experience fact final follow force freedom French further future Government greater growth happiness held historians hope human idea of progress ideal improvement increase individual industry inevitable influence interest knowledge later laws leading least less mankind material means middle mind moral nature observed optimism organization particularly past perfection perhaps period philosophers physical political positive possible predict present principle production rational reason relation religion rise role Saint-Simon scientific sense social society stage success theory thought tion turn understanding universal wealth West Western whole