Why we never learn from history | John Gray on the illusion of progress

Episode Overview

• The Myth of Progress: Philosopher John Gray challenges the modern belief that history is a linear path of improvement. He argues that while scientific and technological progress is real and cumulative, ethical and political progress is cyclical and easily lost.
• The Shadow of Advancement: The discussion explores how every major technological advancement brings a "shadow" or potential for destruction, meaning humanity does not simply become better as it becomes more powerful.
• Realism in Politics: Gray advocates for a "piecemeal" approach to politics rather than grand utopian projects. drawing on his experiences and the influence of Isaiah Berlin, he suggests that political choices are often tragic trade-offs between conflicting values rather than steps toward a perfect society.

Key Concepts

• Cumulative vs. Non-Cumulative Progress: Gray distinguishes between scientific knowledge, which accumulates over time (e.g., anesthetic dentistry is a permanent gain), and ethical/political behavior, which does not. Humanity does not learn from moral errors in a lasting way; lessons from history are often forgotten after a few generations.
• The Fragility of Civilization: The speaker emphasizes that periods of peace, freedom, and high civilization are rare and fragile. They are not the default state of humanity but temporary achievements that are easily disrupted by violence and the recurring nature of human flaws.
• Values are Incompatible: Influenced by Isaiah Berlin, Gray argues that human values (like liberty and equality, or justice and mercy) often conflict. There is no single, coherent utopia where all good things coexist. Consequently, politics is about making difficult, often tragic, choices between competing goods, rather than solving a puzzle to reach a perfect end state.
• Social Engineering as a Spider's Web: Gray rejects the idea of society as a machine that can be engineered. He uses the metaphor of a spider's web to describe society: it is complex and fragile. touching or "fixing" one part often causes vibrations and destruction in other, unforeseen areas, as illustrated by his personal experience with post-war housing policies.

Quotes

• At 0:00 - "Human beings throughout history never learn anything for long, and then they forget what it is they've learned." - explaining his cyclical view of history and the impermanence of moral education.
• At 4:17 - "Nearly all big advances in science and technology can be used for destructive as well as constructive purposes." - highlighting the dual nature of progress and why increased knowledge does not equate to increased safety or morality.
• At 10:44 - "Politics is not for me a universal project of human emancipation. Politics is a succession of partial and temporary expedients for dealing with recurring human evils." - defining his political philosophy as one of coping and management rather than solving or perfecting the human condition.

Takeaways

• Abandon the expectation of linear moral improvement. Recognize that while technology improves, human nature remains constant; expecting each generation to be ethically superior to the last sets one up for disappointment.
• Evaluate political solutions based on trade-offs, not solutions. When assessing policy or social change, look for the inevitable loss or "shadow" that accompanies the gain, rather than expecting a cost-free solution.
• Prioritize the preservation of fragile gains. Instead of striving for a utopian overhaul, focus on maintaining the temporary and fragile periods of peace and liberty that currently exist, understanding that they are easily lost.