Sometimes it may be better to look to the past in order to create a better future...
Both tradition and progress are useful philosophies for designing our future.
While one might think that technological advancement and "enlightened" ways of thinking are obvious ways to pave the future, there is the possibility of falling into a progress trap. Newer is not necessarily better, and as the adage says, "Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them"; so should we not sometimes turn to the "tried and true" for examples of better living?
Of course, there is such a thing as "new and improved"; old ways may only have existed long enough to become traditions simply because no better way yet existed.
I don't think people should so readily dismiss one or the other way of thinking, but instead choose the best ideas from each philosophy. Contributors to this lens may help clarify what those ideas are; hopefully we can all learn something from this debate!
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Which is a better model for shaping the future, tradition or progress?
When it comes to whether tradition or progress is the better philosophy for living, I've observed that people's opinions on the matter seem to fall to one extreme or the other. But I propose that both sides have their valid points and their faults. After all, proven strategies were once unproven, and unproven strategies will eventually be proven or disproven. I suppose if I had to choose a side right now, it would be tradition, simply because it seems to be the less popular position, and worthy of more serious consideration to help balance the debate. (If you can't decide, either, you might prefer to add a comment to the discussion in the next section below instead of here.)
Which is a better model for designing the future, tradition or progress?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byTradition
Progress
freedom geek says:
Progress is superior to tradition. We do not live in a perfect world as despite what the candy coated depictions of the past look like it was even worse. The only time technological progress becomes dangerous is when it is restricted as it is help in the palms of only a few. The technological singularity is near and I plan to embrace it.
Posted March 20, 2008
Can't Choose a Side?
a Comments Plexo
If you couldn't decide to which column to add your opinion in the discussion above, but still wanted to comment, this is the place to do it! (If you just wanted to comment about this lens and not the issue, use the guestbook at the bottom.) You can also rank the comments already made, if you think one proves the point better than others.
Why Progress is Good
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If you have a progressive view, search the internet for pages in favor of progress, and add links here! You can also rank links already listed here, if you think one proves the point better than others.
Why Tradition is Good
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If you have a traditional view, search the internet for pages in favor of tradition, and add links here! You can also rank links already listed here, if you think one proves the point better than others.
Both Progress and Tradition Have Merits
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If you have a more moderate view, search the internet for pages that discuss the merits of both progress and tradition, and add links here! You can also rank links already listed here, if you think one proves the point better than others.
Reader Feedback
As you have probably guessed, I don't think discussions on serious topics should necessarily be "either/or" discussions; there should be room for moderate opinions as well. But based on my observations in internet forums, people rarely realize that the "other side" has a well-thought-out argument for their point of view. Discussions often end up as "flame wars", simply because people are too stubborn to consider different points of view, and often haven't even seriously considered their own beliefs. (And moderates can end up taking the heat from both sides.)
I'd like to think I've set this lens up so that any possible viewpoint on the subject will be well-considered and not overlooked; let me know what you think I'm doing right, and what you think I could do better.
midwestmind wrote
The thing that fascinates me is wondering -- What are the criteria for recognizing "progress" or "tradition"? How do you know if something is "progress" or just "change"? In what category should we put radical change that's done in the name of tradition (think of the imposition of Sharia law in Iran in the 1980s, for instance)? And of course -- I'm sure you've thought of this before -- how do you know if it's really "tradition" or if it's just "something we started doing 20 years ago that makes us feel important"?
Posted May 31, 2008
