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Subtitle: An Inquiry into Its Origin and Growth, Dover Pub. N.Y., 1955,
reprint of 1932, 357 pgs., index, notes, paperback
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Reviewer comments
Dr. Bury traces the development of the concept that humanity is 'progressing',
that is the general condition of humanity in the world is now becoming
'better'. Of course the 'idea of progress' (or lack of it) is a central concept
in the understanding of history and of man's role in the world. He shows that
the idea was not accepted universally by the intelligentsia but was
controversial for many. And it was the intelligentsia that predominated in the
discussion. Most of the authors whose theories he discusses were French, but
they also include major English and German philosophers. First, he outlines the
predominant theories in the classical and Christian centuries. The ancient
Greeks mostly accepted the idea of a 'golden age' from which mankind has
degenerated or a cyclical history of ups and downs. The Christian philosophers
focused on 'progress' being achieved only in future life in heaven and not in
this world. He focuses on the ideas about 'progress' and related concepts as
expressed by the most influential writers from the 16th century to its ultimate
acceptance in the 19th century.
The 'Idea of Progress" is broader than the subject on which Dr. McCloskey
focuses in her three books in Bourgeoisie thought as an essential basis for the
expansion of Western economy. They were contemporary. Dr. Bury describes the
'idea' in philosophical terms. Dr. McCloskey describes the interaction of
belief and material economic development.
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Introduction
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Chapter 1 - Some Interpretations of Universal History: Bodin and Le Roy
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Chapter 2 - Utility The End of Knowledge: Bacon
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Chapter 3 -Cartesianism
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Chapter 4 - The Doctrine of Degeneration: The Ancients and Moderns
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Chapter 5 - The Progress of Knowledge: Fontenellie
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Chapter 6 - The General Progress of Man: Abbe de Saint-Pierre
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Chapter 7 -New Conceptions of History: Montesquieu, Voltaire, Turgot
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Chapter 8 - The Ecnyclopaedists and Economists
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Chapter 9 - Was Civilization a Mistake? Rousseau, Chastellux
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Chapter 10 - The Year 2040
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Chapter 11 - The French Revolution: Condorcet
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Chapter 12 - The Theory of Progress in England
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Chapter 13 - German Speculations on Progress
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Chapter 14 -Currents of Thought in France After the Revolution
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Chapter 15 - The Search for a Law of Progress: I. Saint-Simon
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Chapter 16 - The Search for a Law of Progress: II. Comte
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Chapter 17 - "Progress" in the French Revolutionary Movement
(1830-1851)
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Chapter 18 - Material Progress: The Exhibition of 1851
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Chapter 19 - Progress in the Light of Evolution
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Epilogue
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