Alan Lightman’s “Progress” Essay

In Alan Lightmans attainment the writer believes that the general idea about advancement in engineering science being the measuring rod scale for companys progress is a logical fallacy the both ideas mentioned in this split up state Lightmans self contradictory, yet relative and effectual points. In the fourth paragraph Lightman states, If progress is military man happiness, has anyone limnn that Twentieth- century people are happier than Nineteenth-century people? Alan Lightman suffices it agnise that technological advancements are not a true indicator of societys progress. He hints that a better indicator would be human happiness. I agree with the writer because happiness to me is the real measuring scale of progress.Technology has been evolving ever since man invented the wheel. In any presumptuousness era or time in account the applied science or know-how has always been of the highest level it is only later on in history that makes applied science of the past seem old or out-dated. Twenty-five historic period from now todays technology will seem obsolete, withal though at this present time it is the finest man can manage. Lightmans second idea comes close to contradicting himself, but it still makes a valid point. The writer states, Only a fool would claim that new technology rarely improves the calibre of career. Lightman challenges his earlier statement by indicating that technology improves the quality of life. This is a slight contradiction because if technology improves the quality of life, it aids in human happiness.It indicates that humans are happy when the quality of life is high. Indirectly, the writer points out that advancement in technology helps make people happy. I disagree with this due to the fact that a high-quality life-style is not the sole reason why people are happy. sight find happiness in non-covetous things such as religion, family, reading, nature etcetera. Lightmans contradictory ideas lay out a perfect platfor m for an obscured means of progress. In conclusion, there is no specific dimension (indicator) for progress, as the two issues mentioned indicate. Progress can not be specifically defined. The ideas also show the confusion in which the writer is himself in. As Einstein himself said, It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.