A widely prevailing myth of history is that humanity necessarily progresses with the passage of time, based mainly on advances in science and technology. Particularly in terms of comparing relatively longer gaps of time periods, it is assumed without making much further inquiry that the later period presents progress over the previous period.

One particularly strong impression of this myth is observed in the understanding of roughly the last six centuries or so as this is seen widely as a period of great progress of humanity based on immense breakthroughs in science and technology. However for the majority of the population of world, this was actually a period of unprecedented destruction as colonial exploitation penetrating ever deeper areas destroyed many communities and their livelihood and resource base like never before. In fact the advances in science and technology helped further the accentuation of this exploitative system and its deeper penetration even in very remote areas. This exploitation also resulted in increasing wars and conflicts which in turn became more destructive because of technology ‘advances’ making available more and more destructive weapons. Ultimately there were world wars and atom bombs.

The availability of weapons of mass destruction has now increased to such an extent that all life on earth can be destroyed.

At the same time technology ‘advances’ have also been used to ravage nature and the life-giving natural resource base in more and more massive and destructive ways which can increasingly result in irreversible harm. In fact thousands of scientists have already warned that the basic life-nurturing conditions of the planet are threatened and may even suffer irreversible harm if present trends continue, while weapons of mass destruction already have the capacity of destroying almost all life.

Where is ‘progress’ of humanity in all this ‘advancement’ of science and technology? In fact along with the highly distressing and painful harm and risks suffered by humanity, the last 600 years have also seen unprecedented man-made destruction inflicted on most other forms of life (other than humanity) who share this planet. 

Another aspect that raises questions regarding progress of humanity relates to its increasing inability to realize the futility of the highly destructive path it chooses to tread, resulting in increasing glorification of violence and wars even in highly ‘educated’ and ‘advanced’ societies.

In fact it is very obvious that while in safe, cautious and constructive hands science and technology can contribute a lot to reducing distress and difficulties, in aggressive, greedy and reckless hands advances in science and technology can unleash increasing destruction and distress for all forms of life, while also harming the environment and ultimately the life-nurturing conditions of the planet. This should be more evident today as various countries see a key role of science and technology more in terms of increasing the destructiveness of the weapons available to them, while various giant corporate interests see this in terms of increasing their market share, or increasing their control over the world’s food and the seeds systems, or various other crucial sectors like health and public opinion.

An immense lot of data is actually available to show that apart from the increasing destruction of life-giving systems, or serious threats relating to this, humanity has also suffered much in terms of losing true companionship and durable relationships of trust and love, as also in terms of decreasing sense of contentment, honesty, sincerity and a life lived well in these terms. There has been increasing social disintegration, even increasing violence in daily life, an increasing loss of wider social purpose, increasing alienation, substance abuse, mental health problems and an increasing tendency towards self-harm, trends which can also be seen widely in more ‘educated’ and ‘developed’ societies and countries.

At the same time we should also accept the possibility that small groups of humanity living in small groups in forests about twenty thousand years were able to live a life of higher contentment and companionship without inflicting distress on others. This is stated merely to increase encouragement of thinking of history in alternative ways instead of accepting that with the passage of time progress inevitably takes place.

In fact it is much more constructive and creative to explore history in terms of finding the conditions in which distress of humanity and other forms of life could be significantly reduced, in which people could find more satisfying life which also helped them to better realize their creative potential. On the whole this could happen more in those conditions where there was higher commitment to peace, justice and protection of environment. This can also be seen in smaller periods in some places even when the overall record of a longer period was destructive.

Hence an overwhelming lesson of history is that commitment to basic precepts of peace, justice (and equality) and protection of environment (and biodiversity and all forms of life) is very significant for creating the conditions of safety, satisfaction and constructive contributions of humanity as well as safety of other forms of life.

It is encouraging to learn from history that in times when destructive tendencies increase too much leading to immense distress there are also counter-moves and movements to check this. Sometimes these come in the form of great resistance movements and liberation movements, and sometime these come in the form of great spiritual movements whose leaders guide people to live a life in conformity of those values which are aligned with precepts of justice, peace and protection of environment and all forms of life.

Now we are at a moment of history when destructive tendencies on earth have increased to such an extent that the basic life-nurturing conditions are threatened. Hence at this critical juncture of history we need peaceful resistance movements as well as spiritual movements which help to end destruction and start much needed re-construction or re-creation of world based on precepts of justice, peace and protection of environment, integrated with protection of life-nurturing conditions of earth.

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Bharat Dogra is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Protecting Earth for Children, Planet in Peril, A Day in 2071, Man over Machine and Earth without Borders. He is a regular contributor to Global Research.

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