Does Progressivism Exist?

Posted by lmarrott 10 years, 1 month ago to Philosophy
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I was trying to find some good definition of progressivism and I found this article. I thought it did a pretty good job overall of explaining this and maybe outlining why sometimes it is hard to find information about "progressives".
SOURCE URL: http://www.americanthinker.com/2013/03/does_progressivism_exist.html


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  • Posted by Zenphamy 10 years, 1 month ago
    An outstanding article. Txs.

    My favorite part:
    "So we return to our initial question: does "genuine" progressivism exist? Thousands of men and women have achieved power and wealth for themselves, subdued "the masses" of many nations, forcibly removed generations of children from their parents' control, turned every traditional moral precept on its head in the name of "social justice," "workers' rights," and "spreading the wealth," and murdered, disarmed, criminalized, or re-educated anyone who stood in their way. They achieved these things by framing them as "progress" on the path to equality, fairness, and rights, but their practical outcomes have been indistinguishable from those of every bloody tyrant in modern history. And they also share a natural enemy in common with history's tyrants, namely all those among "the masses" who wish to pursue their own ends by their own effort, unimpeded by coercive obstruction from other men."

    It points very solidly to the fallacy of allowing others to label themselves and then re-define the term to fit their public persona rather than their actions. "I mean(t) to do well."

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  • Posted by Robbie53024 10 years, 1 month ago
    Interesting article. Perhaps the better term would be "statist" which can include both the left as well as the right.
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  • Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 10 years, 1 month ago
    Hello Imarrott,
    Thank you for bringing this article to us. It is hard to nail down anything concretely with labels when the language is purposely being distorted by those who wish to be King.
    One man's progress is another's prison.

    Regards,
    O.A.
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  • Posted by $ Maphesdus 10 years, 1 month ago
    Ludwig von Mises said that Progressivism was essentially indistinguishable from Socialism. This article seems to agree with that position.
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    • Posted by 10 years, 1 month ago
      On another post someone commented that Progressivism stemmed from Fabian Socialism. The Wikipedia page read:

      The Fabian Society is a British socialist organisation whose purpose is to advance the principles of socialism via gradualist and reformist means.

      Which like you said is socialism, but with a very deliberate, slow, gradual advancement.
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