Ronald Wright's A Short History Of Progress

Ronald Wrights A Short History of Progress gives an overall view of the world’s history of progression since mankind has entered the earth. He discusses the argument whether human’s progression has been beneficial or many catastrophic mistakes. He uses examples to back his argument up such as the civilizations in the past and how their progression also was their reason for downfall. A civilization needs to handle progression in their society responsibly. Wrights contributions to this argument have been able to lead to further discussion in relation to being a responsible citizen in our world today. In order to be a responsible citizen in the world, a person must “take charge of their lives. They make plans for nurturing their talents and skills” (Spellings 15). Humans have done this so far but not always ending in positive results. A person can take charge of their life, as long as they do not allow too much progress to result in doing too much to take charge of their lives along with using their talents or skills. Also, it is

However, progress can become “a seductive trail of successes [that] may end in a trap” (Wright 5). Progression can mask the conclusion of a person’s actions. But progression does not only include large events such as the making of a gun or the change from hunter-gather to farming. Progression can include basic changes to necessities such as “clothing and built shelter… [we] opened up every climate from the tropics to the tundra. We moved beyond the environments that had made us, and began to make ourselves” (Wright 13). This migration and progression to various locations sets off the beginning of many different societies, some in which successfully make it, others do not. This is also called a trial and error process. Basically all civilizations are a trial and error, based on how they have dealt with progression; the society can either rise or