Progress and History

This volume is a sequel to The Unity of Western Civilization published last year and arose in the same way, from a course of lectures given at the Woodbrooke Settlement, Birmingham.

The former book attempted to describe some of the permanent unifying factors which hold our Western civilization together in spite of such catastrophic divisions as the present war. This book attempts to show these forces in growth. The former aimed rather at a statical, the present at a dynamical view of the same problem. Both are historical in spirit.

It is hoped that these courses may serve as an introduction to a series of cognate studies, of which clearly both the supply and the scope are infinite, for under the general conception of 'Progress in Unity' all great human topics might be embraced. One subject has been suggested for early treatment which would have especial interest at the present time, viz. 'Recent Progress in European Thought'. We are by the war brought more closely than before into contact with other nations of Europe who are pursuing with inevitable differences the same main lines of evolution. To indicate these in general, with stress on the factor of betterment, is the aim of the present volume.

F.S.M.

CONTENTS

PAGE

I. THE IDEA OF PROGRESS 7

By F. S. MARVIN.

II. PROGRESS IN PREHISTORIC TIMES 27

By R. R. MARETT, Reader in Social Anthropology, Oxford.

III. PROGRESS AND HELLENISM 48

By F. MELIAN STAWELL, late Lecturer at Newnham College, Cambridge.

IV. PROGRESS IN THE MIDDLE AGES 72

By the Rev. A. J. CARLYLE, Tutor and Lecturer at University College, Oxford.

V. PROGRESS IN RELIGION 96

By BARON FRIEDRICH VON HUeGEL.

VI. MORAL PROGRESS 134

By L. P. JACKS, Principal of Manchester New College, Oxford.

VII. GOVERNMENT 151

By A. E. ZIMMERN, late Fellow of New College, Oxford.

VIII. INDUSTRY 189

By A. E. ZIMMERN.

IX. ART 224

By A. CLUTTON BROCK.

X. SCIENCE 248

By F. S. MARVIN.

XI. PHILOSOPHY 273

By J. A. SMITH, Waynflete Professor of Mental and Moral Philosophy, Oxford.

XII. PROGRESS AS AN IDEAL OF ACTION 295

By J. A. SMITH.

I

THE IDEA OF PROGRESS

F. S. MARVIN

The editor of these essays was busy in the autumn of last year collating the opinions attached by different people to the word 'progress'. One Sunday afternoon he happened to be walking with two friends in Oxford, one a professor of philosophy, the other a lady. The professor of philosophy declared that to him human progress must always mean primarily the increase of knowledge; the editor urged the increase of power as its most characteristic feature, but the lady added at once that to her progress had always meant, and could only mean, increase in our appreciation of the humanity of others.

The first two thoughts, harmonized and directed by the third, may be taken to cover the whole field, and this volume to be merely a commentary upon them. What we have to consider is, when and how this idea of progress, as a general thing affecting mankind as a whole, first appeared in the world, how far it has been realized in history, and how far it gives us any guidance and hope for the future. In the midst of a catastrophe which appears at first sight to be a deadly blow to the ideal, such an inquiry has a special interest and may have some permanent value.