HON
201-7
Fall,
2009
Dr.
Greenway
Defining “Progress”
Introduction
In our Honors 201 this fall we will pursue an elusive
quarry: the meaning of “Progress.” The word has a great deal of power to
regulate our social and political choices, but I find it difficult to define.
We’ll explore the term with issues raised by three figures: science and
technology through Galileo; faith and reason through Søren
Kierkegaard; biology through Charles Darwin. In my reading thus far, I’m more
interested in finding out the questions than memorizing answers, so thus far it
occurs to me that:
Everybody has faith in something;
be it God, Reason or mathematics. I find it tricky, however, to discover what
one actually believes in: what
assumptions unconsciously determine your choices. If “progress” means “better,” “better” in
what sense? Does “new” mean “progress,” or just “different”? If
progress involves “happiness,” then should I call it “progress” if I’m happy
(for a little while) with my new iPod? I don’t know if we’re happier
with computers, but I’d rather write with a computer than on a manual
typewriter. Or by hand; I’ve done all three.
So perhaps “progress” involves solving the problems our
civilization creates. I’d consider, for instance, the evolution of the
three-tined fork progress in the way we eat over shoveling food into my mouth
with a knife (as we did in the 16th century). Certainly
easier on the lips and nose. And I’m glad we have antibiotics, though Natural
Selection on a viral level creates nasty antibiotic resistant diseases.
If we gain nothing else from our semester together, we’ll
all learn something about our tacit assumptions concerning the way the world
works. For more specifics, on to the syllabus.