In my work, I frequently criticize technology and global capitalism, because those are the two main forces that are causing exceptional amount of habitat destruction on the planet today. In general, I oppose technological development through global capitalism, because such development is directed only by short-term profits. Thus, one might think that I am anti-progress. Is that true? In other words, does opposing modern-day technological development mean opposing progress?
On the surface, it would seem so. Indeed, if there were such a thing as a “delete button” for all the AI developments that have been done recently, I would press it, no question. And it’s true, in general, I do oppose most technological development and I think the modern smartphone was one of the most destructive inventions of the 21st century.
But, I don’t oppose progress, because I think it depends on how you define progress. I like science as may be evinced by my PhD in Mathematics. And, I do think there is great value in the scientific method. But here’s what I do oppose: scientific development without a parallel development of wisdom. I oppose technological development only for the sake of profit. I oppose attempting to maximize the good of humanity at the expense of nonhuman animals and ecosystems.
So, what I really oppose is progress as it typically occurs in the system of global capitalism, and progress for incremental gains long after we’ve past the point of diminishing returns. I oppose progress if it’s a human supremacist view of progress that destroys natural ecosystems for human convenience.
A different sort of progress
But that does not have to be progress: progress can be making healthy relationships with nature. Progress can mean giving up a great deal of technology and realizing that we don’t need a lot of it. Progress doesn’t mean giving up the scientific and logical way of thinking, but balancing that with wisdom gained from an ecological and spiritual relationship with nature.
It might sound like I oppose progress because society thinks that progress is building a new scientific institute. I think progress is knocking down a shopping mall and rewilding the earth to watch the magic of plants grow in place of the lifeless concrete.
Society thinks that progress is higher resolution 8K video. I think that progress is all people having access to nature near their homes so they can watch nature bloom with their own eyes.
Society thinks that progress is the Higgs boson. I think that progress is being able to watch animals and understand how they behave in response to the upcoming weather.
So do I oppose progress? Yes and no. Yes, I oppose almost all forms of progress if that progress is nothing else than the furthering of our currently destructive society. If progress requires destroying a habitat, then I oppose it. But progress can be much more than that: instead of being a euphemism for violent conquest of the natural world, progress can mean going back to a healthier relationship with the natural world. Progress doesn’t mean giving up our rational and scientific approach, but it does mean augmenting that understanding with wisdom and considering nonhuman needs on the same level as human needs.
In other words, progress should mean a return to a symbiotic relationship with nature, rather than a parasitic one. It should mean the development of wisdom by developing relationships with animals and plants. It should mean humanity learning a little humility, instead of thinking that we’re so great just because we’ve created ChatGPT or landed on the moon. Sorry, I’m not impressed.
We’re just another living organism on this planet. We’ve been given life, and in return we have an obligation to remember our role and use our gift of intelligence responsibly rather than as a kid in a candy store. Now that would be real progress.