6.Onwards and Upwards(878)

Ninth grade rewrite

Onwards and Upwards

【1】In today’s world, the idea of progress has lost some of its meaning. Many people believe that while technology and the economy are advancing, our morals and society are either staying the same or getting worse. On the political left, “progress” is often viewed with skepticism, while on the right, “progressive” is sometimes used as a negative term.

【2】This wasn’t always the case. During the Enlightenment and the 19th century, people were generally optimistic about the future. They believed that humanity could achieve happiness and lead meaningful lives here on Earth. They were full of ideas about how to make the world a better place.

【3】Different groups had different views on how progress would happen. Some believed that God, history, or evolution would bring about a better future. Others thought that people would improve naturally or that they needed to be guided or even forced into becoming better. Some put their faith in science, others in education, and still others in good laws. Back then, most people believed that progress was not just possible, but inevitable; the question was how it would be achieved.

【4】The idea of progress is crucial for society. Without the belief that things can get better, people might see life as a zero-sum game, where one person’s gain is another’s loss. If human behavior is seen as unchangeable, social policies would only focus on controlling negative impulses rather than improving society. This is why it’s important to keep believing in progress and think about how to restore that belief if it’s lost.

【5】Some might argue that there is plenty of evidence of progress around us. For example, in the past, people only lived to about 25 or 30 years old, and many parents lost their children. Today, life expectancy is much higher, with people in countries like Japan and Canada living over 80 years on average. In the past, most people were poor, but now, in richer countries, people earn much more than ever before. Literacy rates have also increased significantly, and many people enjoy rights like voting, freedom of speech, and access to healthcare.

【6】However, progress isn’t just about comparing the past to the present; it’s about what happens in the future. People today expect a certain level of health, wealth, and equality, and they measure progress against these expectations rather than against the harsh realities of the past.

【7】The idea of progress has a long history, but it really began to take shape in the 17th century with Enlightenment thinkers who believed that reason and human achievement could lead to continuous improvement. They saw various aspects of human life, like language, community, science, and government, as engines of progress. Unfortunately, not all of these engines have worked as expected.

【8】Some ideas about progress from the past now seem outdated. For instance, some thinkers believed that purging language of old superstitions and errors could lead to a better society. While the idea of using language for social change still exists in some forms, it’s not as powerful as it once was.

【9】Other sources of progress have darker histories. The idea that individual progress should serve the nation led to tragic events in history, such as those under Hitler’s rule. Similarly, the 20th century saw the rise of the belief that progress could be imposed on the masses by a few enlightened leaders, but this led to oppression and violence.

【10】In the modern age, material progress, driven by science and economic growth, has become the dominant form of progress. Science has given us great power to change the world, but it also raises questions about whether we can use this power wisely. History shows that technological advances can be used for both good and bad purposes, such as nuclear power, which can generate electricity or be used to create weapons.

【11】Economic progress, while it has brought prosperity, doesn’t always lead to greater happiness. Studies show that while wealth has increased significantly in recent decades, levels of happiness have not risen accordingly. This may be because people are often more concerned with their status relative to others than with their absolute wealth.

【12】Moreover, people worry that despite economic and scientific progress, the world may not be better off in the future. Environmental issues, social problems, and the fear that future generations may not enjoy the same quality of life all contribute to a sense of unease.

【13】The hope for a better future lies in moral progress and good governance. While governments are often criticized for being inefficient, they also represent important moral achievements, such as the protection of human rights and the rule of law. These institutions are the result of centuries of progress in moral thinking and represent our best hope for a just and fair society.

【14】In the end, progress, especially moral progress, is not guaranteed. It requires effort and commitment from everyone. While we may never reach perfection, it’s important to keep striving for a better world. The responsibility for progress lies with us.

九年级改写

向前和向上

【1】在当今世界，进步的概念已经失去了一些意义。许多人认为，在科技和经济不断发展的同时，我们的道德和社会要么保持不变，要么变得更糟。在政治左翼，“进步”一词经常被持怀疑态度，而在右翼，“进步”有时被用作负面词汇。

【2】情况并非总是如此。在启蒙运动和19世纪，人们普遍对未来持乐观态度。他们相信人类可以在地球上获得幸福，过上有意义的生活。他们对如何让世界变得更美好充满了想法。

【3】不同的团体对如何取得进步有不同的看法。有些人相信上帝、历史或进化会带来更好的未来。另一些人则认为人们会自然地进步，或者他们需要被引导甚至强迫变得更好。一些人相信科学，一些人相信教育，还有一些人相信好的法律。当时，大多数人认为进步不仅是可能的，而且是不可避免的;问题是如何实现。

【4】进步的观念对社会是至关重要的。如果不相信事情会变得更好，人们可能会把生活视为一场零和游戏，一个人的收获就是另一个人的损失。如果认为人的行为是不可改变的，那么社会政策只会关注于控制消极冲动，而不是改善社会。这就是为什么保持对进步的信念，并考虑如何在失去信念时恢复这种信念是很重要的。

【5】有些人可能会争辩说，我们周围有很多进步的证据。例如，在过去，人们只能活到25岁或30岁左右，许多父母失去了孩子。今天，预期寿命要高得多，日本和加拿大等国家的人平均寿命超过80岁。过去，大多数人都很穷，但现在，在较富裕的国家，人们挣得比以往任何时候都多。识字率也显著提高，许多人享有投票权、言论自由和获得医疗保健等权利。

【6】然而，进步并不仅仅是将过去与现在进行比较;而是关于未来会发生什么。今天的人们期望一定程度的健康、财富和平等，他们以这些期望来衡量进步，而不是以过去严酷的现实来衡量进步。

【7】进步的概念有着悠久的历史，但它真正开始形成是在17世纪的启蒙思想家们，他们相信理性和人类的成就可以导致持续的进步。他们认为人类生活的各个方面，如语言、社区、科学和政府，都是进步的引擎。不幸的是，并非所有这些引擎都像预期的那样工作。

【8】过去关于进步的一些观念现在看来已经过时了。例如，一些思想家认为，清除语言中的旧迷信和错误可以导致一个更好的社会。虽然以某种形式使用语言进行社会变革的想法仍然存在，但它不像以前那么强大了。

【9】其他进步的来源有着更黑暗的历史。个人进步应该为国家服务的观念导致了历史上的悲剧性事件，比如希特勒统治下的那些事件。同样，20世纪出现了这样一种信念，即少数开明的领导人可以将进步强加给大众，但这导致了压迫和暴力。

【10】在现代，在科学和经济增长的推动下，物质进步已成为主要的进步形式。科学给了我们改变世界的巨大力量，但它也提出了我们能否明智地使用这种力量的问题。历史表明，技术进步既可以用于好的目的，也可以用于坏的目的，例如核能，它可以发电，也可以用来制造武器。

【11】经济进步虽然带来了繁荣，但并不总是带来更大的幸福。研究表明，虽然近几十年来财富显著增加，但幸福水平并没有相应提高。这可能是因为人们往往更关心自己相对于他人的地位，而不是自己的绝对财富。

【12】此外，人们担心，尽管经济和科学取得了进步，但世界在未来可能不会变得更好。环境问题、社会问题，以及担心后代可能无法享受同样质量的生活，这些都造成了不安感。

【13】美好未来的希望在于道德的进步和良好的治理。虽然政府经常被批评效率低下，但它们也代表着重要的道德成就，比如保护人权和法治。这些制度是几个世纪以来道德思想进步的结果，代表着我们对公正和公平社会的最大希望。

【14】最后，进步，尤其是道德进步，是没有保证的。它需要每个人的努力和承诺。虽然我们可能永远无法达到完美，但重要的是要不断努力创造一个更美好的世界。进步的责任在于我们。