Human Progress

Ideas of human progress can be traced back to the ancient world. Plato, in The Republic, attempts to create an ideal society he believes would be a greater good for humanity. Other historical theories, such as those during the Enlightenment, defined progress in accordance with individual freedom. Immanuel Kant, in his text "What is Enlightenment?" described it as " Enlightenment is man's leaving his self-caused immaturity. Immaturity is the incapacity to use one's intelligence without the guidance of another."