Introduction

We may believe in the doctrine of Progress or we may not, but in either case it is a matter of interest to examine the origins and trace the history of what is now, even should it ultimately prove to be no more than an idolum saeculi, the animating and controlling idea of western civilisation.

Contents

Some Interpretations of Universal History: Bodin and Le Roy

Utility the End of Knowledge: Bacon

Cartesianism

The Doctrine of Degeneration: the Ancients and Moderns

The Progress of Knowledge: Fontenelle

The General Progress of Man: Abbe De Saint-Pierre

New Conceptions of History: Montesquieu, Voltaire, Turgot

The Encyclopaedists and Economists

Was Civilisation a Mistake? Rousseau, Chastellux

The Year 2440

The French Revolution: Condorcet

The Theory of Progress in England

German Speculations on Progress

Currents of Thought in France After the Revolution

The Search for a Law of Progress:

"Progress" in the French Revolutionary Movement (1830-1851)

Material Progress: the Exhibition of 1851

Progress in the Light of Evolution