Social progress is a broad concept. It reflects not only the change in the movement of social being in public space and time. The concept of “social progress” does not record either an assessment of the quality of development or its very direction. The phenomenon is the result of social development, which involves an increase in technological and scientific knowledge, as well as an increase in complex social organization and productivity. Thus, social progress and its criteria reflect the establishment of the most advanced forms of society. It should be said at the same time that the improvement of social life has a direct impact on the development of personality. In this regard, social progress in recent years is increasingly based on the humanistic concept of the development of society, the main purpose of which is welfare, self-actualization of man.
All of the above is a reflection of the understanding of the definition itself. In this case, the question of the presence of social progress in public life is considered from two opposite points. The first concept recognizes the existence of an idea, and the second, accordingly, does not recognize.
Theories that recognize social progress, its idea and main goals should include, first of all, the concept of Parsons (American sociologist) and the concept of Condorcet (French philosopher-sociologist).
The latter in his works spoke of the existence of laws of development in the historical plane. Condorcet believed that the mind has the ability to change the world on a rational basis. According to the philosopher, social progress primarily depends on increasing scientific knowledge and universal education.
This concept has had a significant impact on Comte's views. This French sociologist formulated a law on the three stages of social progress in human development, based on which he put intellectual progress.
The teachings of Comte and Condorcet contributed to the fact that the study of the evolution of society has become a priority in the study of public life.
By the twentieth century, the concept formed the basis of the ideas of neo-evolutionists. Parsons became the representative of this direction. In his opinion, the strengthening of the ability to adapt the whole society as a whole is the main criterion for social progress.
The concept of social evolution is supported by various theories of post-industrial and industrial society. Such criteria as the degree of modernization, the level of development in the technological plan, and the transformation of science into a social productive force are used as criteria for progress .
At the end of the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th, experts note a certain triumph of the ideas of social evolution. In the social sphere, everything looks very optimistic, the belief is shown that successes in the technological and scientific sphere will inevitably lead to an improvement in the well-being of people, as well as to an increase in the level of public life, as a result of which humanity will be able to free itself from poverty, ignorance and injustice.
There are theories that reject progress. As a methodological basis for the development of these theories, there is a statement about a multi-linear concept in development. This concept justifies the probabilistic and variable nature of the process, while denying social progress and social laws.
One of the first with the concept of denial was Nietzsche. He criticized humanism and rationalism. In his opinion, any historical truth is only an illusion, and social knowledge does not and cannot have objectivity.