About The Progressive Optimist

The history of humanity is a never ending story of changing social norms and values. From protestantism to abortion rights, from abolitionism to racial equality, from women's suffrage to LGBT rights - every new social idea inevitably arouses reaction and opposition. But as history demonstrates, their ultimate universal acceptance is inevitable, for these are not merely random whims of particular individuals. Behind every social truth or idea there stands a material social reality. And this social reality is always determined by the particular stage of our economic development. This is the theoretical basis of The Progressive Optimist - a project that presupposes an open-minded reader who is willing to challenge his or her intellectual arrogance.

What is the key message to be taken away from The Progressive Optimist? That there is no end of history, that there are no correct or incorrect social norms, that there is no absolute truth in social relations. And ironically, every generation tends to believe that they are the correct ones. And yet, every generation will be judged by their successors in the same manner that they have judged their predecessors. Therefore, this project invites the reader to critically reconsider his or her social beliefs. And to place them within a wider historical context. For our political convictions are not products of our purely independent thought processes. We are all children of our historical stage of human development.

The primary thread of The Progressive Optimist consists of brief commentaries on various historical precedents. These historical examples demonstrate that all contemporary attacks on the numerous social rights and individual liberties are only temporary setbacks. Our entire history is a tale of an endless social progress that is constantly attacked by reactionary forces. In this regard there is no basis for pessimism within the progressive camp. And will the conservatives find any value in the contents of The Progressive Optimist? Well, to the extent that the science of history shows them that the world did not collapse as a result of the numerous social changes which have already happened before our times - it might also make them less pessimistic.

That’s why this project is Optimist. The Progressive Optimist.