6.Onwards and Upwards(677)

Sixth grade rewrite

Onwards and Upwards

【1】In the world today, the idea of progress has changed. Some people think technology and the economy are getting better, but that our morals and society are not improving, or even getting worse. Some people on the left side of politics are skeptical about progress, while those on the right often use "progressive" as a negative term.

【2】It wasn’t always this way. In the past, especially during the Enlightenment and the 19th century, people were hopeful that the world could become a better place. They had many ideas on how to make life happier and more meaningful on Earth.

【3】Some believed that God or history would bring about a better future. Others thought that people would improve naturally or that they needed to be guided. Some believed in the power of nations, while others wanted to get rid of them. There were also those who trusted science, education, or wise laws to bring progress. Back then, most people believed that progress was possible; the question was how it would happen.

【4】The idea of progress is important because it helps society aim for better ideals like equality and freedom. If people stop believing in progress, it’s worth thinking about how to bring back that belief.

【5】You might wonder, "Isn’t there proof of progress all around us?" Indeed, in many ways, life has improved. For example, people now live much longer than they used to. In the past, most people lived only until they were 25 or 30 years old, and many parents lost their children. Today, people live to 65 or even over 80 years old in countries like Japan and Canada. Poverty was common, but now, people in rich countries can earn much more in a single day than people used to earn in a whole year.

【6】More people can read today, and many enjoy rights like voting and free speech. If they get sick, they receive medical care. However, some still worry that future dangers, like nuclear war or environmental disasters, could undo this progress.

【7】Progress isn’t just about comparing the past to the present; it’s about what happens next. People today expect a certain level of health, wealth, and equality. They measure progress against these expectations.

【8】The idea of progress has a long history, but it really began to grow in the 17th century during the Enlightenment. Thinkers back then believed that humans could achieve great things through reason and that progress would come from science, community, and good government. However, not all of these sources of progress have worked out as expected.

【9】Some ideas from the past seem old-fashioned now. For example, people once believed that changing language could change society. Others thought that individual progress should be part of a nation's destiny, but this idea led to tragic events like those under Hitler.

【10】In the 20th century, many believed that progress could be forced on people by a few enlightened leaders. But the fall of the Berlin Wall and other events showed that people didn’t want to be controlled this way. Today, material progress mostly comes from science and economic growth, but these also raise questions. Science gives us great power, but can we be trusted to use it wisely? Economic growth has improved living standards, but it doesn’t always lead to happiness.

【11】Despite these challenges, people still want to believe in moral progress—the idea that society can become fairer and more just. This is why things like free speech, equality before the law, and human rights are so important. They represent the progress of our morals and values.

【12】Moral progress isn’t guaranteed, and we may never fully reach our ideals. But that doesn’t mean we should stop trying. Progress is about moving forward, even if we never reach perfection. It’s up to us to keep striving for a better world.

六年级改写

向前和向上

【1】在当今世界，进步的概念发生了变化。有些人认为科技和经济越来越好，但我们的道德和社会没有改善，甚至变得更糟。一些左翼人士对进步持怀疑态度，而右翼人士则经常使用“进步”作为负面词汇。

【2】事情并不总是这样的。在过去，特别是在启蒙运动和19世纪，人们希望世界能变得更美好。他们有很多关于如何让地球上的生活更快乐、更有意义的想法。

【3】有些人相信上帝或历史会带来更好的未来。另一些人则认为人会自然而然地进步，或者需要指导。一些人相信国家的力量，而另一些人则想摆脱国家。还有一些人相信科学、教育或明智的法律会带来进步。当时，大多数人相信进步是可能的;问题是它将如何发生。

【4】进步的概念是重要的，因为它有助于社会追求更好的理想，如平等和自由。如果人们不再相信进步，那就值得思考如何让这种信念恢复。

【5】你可能会想，“难道我们周围没有进步的证据吗?”的确，在许多方面，生活得到了改善。例如，现在人们的寿命比过去长得多。在过去，大多数人只能活到25岁或30岁，许多父母失去了他们的孩子。今天，在日本和加拿大等国家，人们能活到65岁甚至80多岁。贫穷很普遍，但现在，富裕国家的人们一天挣的钱比过去一年挣的钱多得多。

【6】如今，更多的人能够阅读，许多人享有投票权和言论自由等权利。如果他们生病了，他们会得到医疗护理。然而，一些人仍然担心，未来的危险，如核战争或环境灾难，可能会使这一进展毁于一旦。

【7】进步不仅仅是比较过去和现在;重要的是接下来会发生什么。今天的人们期望一定程度的健康、财富和平等。他们根据这些期望来衡量进步。

【8】进步的概念有着悠久的历史，但它真正开始发展是在17世纪的启蒙运动时期。当时的思想家认为，人类可以通过理性取得伟大的成就，进步将来自科学、社区和良好的政府。然而，并非所有这些进步的来源都如预期的那样发挥了作用。

【9】过去的一些想法现在看来已经过时了。例如，人们曾经认为改变语言可以改变社会。其他人认为个人进步应该是国家命运的一部分，但这种想法导致了像希特勒统治下那样的悲剧性事件。

【10】在20世纪，许多人认为进步可以被少数开明的领导人强加于人。但柏林墙的倒塌和其他事件表明，人们不想被这种方式控制。今天，物质进步主要来自科学和经济增长，但这也带来了问题。科学赋予我们巨大的力量，但我们能被信任明智地使用它吗?经济增长提高了生活水平，但并不总是带来幸福。

【11】尽管面临这些挑战，人们仍然愿意相信道德进步，相信社会可以变得更加公平和公正。这就是言论自由、法律面前人人平等和人权如此重要的原因。它们代表着我们道德和价值观的进步。

【12】道德进步没有保证，我们可能永远无法完全实现我们的理想。但这并不意味着我们应该停止尝试。进步就是前进，即使我们永远无法达到完美。我们应该继续为一个更美好的世界而奋斗。