The Progressive Theory of History
The Whig theory of history began in the early to mid-19th century, and it has taken over: it’s still with us. It’s still dominant despite criticisms in the 1930s and ’40s.
Basically, what the Whig theory of history says is that history is an inevitable march upward into the light. In other words, step by step, the world always progresses, and this progress is inevitable.
Now, the Whigs themselves were kind of lovable. They were moderate classical liberals. And when they coined the theory in the 1830s, ’40s, and ’50s, there was a certain amount of justification for it: indeed, if they looked back on the past, things seemed to be getting better and better. There was an increase in freedom, an increase in civilization and standard of living and science and knowledge, and so forth and so on.
And so, unfortunately, they made this impressionistic conclusion into a doctrine, saying, “This is inevitable.” If this is 1870, we’re better off in every way than in 1860, etc.
This implies heavily that everything that was at any stage of the game was right — it was the best that was possible at the time. And therefore everything that is now is right, or at least is the best possible for this epoch.
And now… the rest of the story. …..
Harold
Interesting article. The Wigs are still around that is a fact, they are now called Republicans but I will give an example that is factual and it will show what direction such views can take or come from.
I was a teenage director at a YWCA in a poor area of California.
I soon noticed progress was difficult because every suggestion brought the answer “God will provide”. It was the beginning of blood letting in Vietnam so I asked them if we should send a Card to the troops, the answer was “you do it” which I did, all that was happening was God’s will. There is a similar story in Russia, Communism had just started and the government was helping the farmers who thanked God for the help. The commissar told the praying farmer “but we sent you the food not God” “yes but God sent you to me”
And for the Calvinist of New England God determined who should be rich or poor, so, the rich were rich by the will of God and the poor, well that was also God’s will”
So what can we make of this?