Progressivism

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A wheel with wings is often a symbol of progress

The idea of progress is the belief that human society gets better and better over time.[1] Progressivism is a kind of politics based on social progress.[2] It is also a philosophical movement. Progress started being supported by many philosophers in the Age of Enlightenment.[3][4] They believed that new inventions and scientific discoveries would make people's lives better.

Progressivism often supports reforms and change. It is related to liberalism and egalitarianism.

Politics[change | change source]

Progressive politics generally wants to change government in a new way. Unlike conservatism which wants to keep government similar. It most often refers to a political movement in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, called the Progressive Era. In the United States, these people wanted to change politics, which was at that time run by big business and corrupt political machines. Most of the people who believed in the Progressive Movement were part of the middle class. Some of the leaders of the progressive movement were Theodore Roosevelt, Hiram Johnson , William Howard Taft, Robert M. La Follette, Sr., Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Howard Dean.

References[change | change source]

  1. "Progress". Progress definition. Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University. 2019.
  2. Tröhler, Daniel (26 April 2017). "Progressivism". Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Education. doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780190264093.013.111. ISBN 978-0-19-026409-3.
  3. Outram, Dorinda (2006), Panorama of the Enlightenment, Getty Publications, p. 29, ISBN 978-0892368617
  4. Zafirovski, Milan (2010), The Enlightenment and Its Effects on Modern Society, p. 144

Related pages[change | change source]