The Idea of Progress (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. An Inquiry Into Its Origin And GrowthBy J. B. Bury
Length10h 59m
About this audiobook
The Idea of Progress is J. B. Bury's lucid historical inquiry into one of modernity's governing assumptions: that humanity, through reason, science, and social organization, can advance indefinitely. Written in a measured, analytic prose characteristic of early twentieth-century intellectual history, the book traces the concept from classical and Christian antecedents through the Renaissance, Enlightenment, and nineteenth-century evolutionary thought. Bury situates progress not as an eternal truth but as a historically emergent idea, shaped by changing attitudes toward knowledge, freedom, and the future. J. B. Bury, an eminent Irish historian and classical scholar, was deeply formed by rigorous philology, ancient history, and the liberal rationalism of his age. His career at Trinity College Dublin and later Cambridge gave him command of both classical antiquity and modern historiography. This breadth enabled him to examine progress with unusual detachment, neither merely celebrating nor dismissing it, but asking how such a powerful doctrine came to command modern belief. This book is recommended to readers interested in intellectual history, philosophy of history, and the genealogy of modern secular thought. It remains valuable for anyone wishing to understand how confidence in human improvement became central to modern political, scientific, and cultural imagination.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
Rating★★★★ 4.4 (48)
Includes Amazon
GenrePhilosophy
Length10 hrs 59 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateFeb 6, 2019
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1A Beginner's History of Philosophy (Vol. 1&2) (Annotated)
2Introduction
3Synopsis
4Historical Context
5Preface
Show all chaptersShow less
6Introduction
7Chapter I. Some Interpretations of Universal History: Bodin and le Roy
8Chapter II. Utility the End of Knowledge: Bacon
9Chapter III. Cartesianism
10Chapter IV. The Doctrine of Degeneration: The Ancients and Moderns
11Chapter V. The Progress of Knowledge: Fontenelle
12Chapter VI. The General Progress of Man: Abbe de Saint-Pierre
13Chapter VII. New Conceptions of History: Montesquieu, Voltaire, Turgot
14Chapter VIII. The Encyclopaedists and Economists
15Chapter IX. Was Civilisation a Mistake? Rousseau, Chastellux. 1
16Chapter X. The Year 2440
17Chapter XI. The French Revolution: Condorcet
18Chapter XII. The Theory of Progress in England
19Chapter XIII. German Speculations on Progress
20Chapter XIV. Currents of Thought in France after the Revolution
21Chapter XV. The Search for a Law of Progress
22Chapter XVI. The Search for a Law of Progress: II. Comte
23Chapter XVII. "Progress" in the French Revolutionary Movement (1830-1851)
24Chapter XVIII. Material Progress: The Exhibition of 1851
25Chapter XIX. Progress in the Light of Evolution
26Epilogue
27Analysis
28Reflection
29Memorable Quotes
More from J. B. Bury
History of Byzantine Empire: 5 Essential History BooksJ. B. Bury, William Gordon Holmes, Charles Oman, Joseph François Michaud, Edwin Pears133h 56m4.4 (12)$1.99
History of the Later Roman EmpireJ. B. Bury38h 31m4.2 (242)$1.99 · $0.00
The Invasion of Europe by the Barbarians (Annotated)J. B. Bury8h 41m4.0 (697)$2 · $0.00
The History of the Byzantine Empire (Annotated)J. B. Bury15h 41m$2 · $0.00
A History of Freedom of Thought (Annotated)J. B. Bury6h 49m3.6 (231)$2 · $0.00
The History of the Byzantine EmpireJ. B. Bury15h 32m4.0 (50)$1 · $0.00
The Hellenistic AgeJ. B. Bury, E.A. Barber, Edwyn Bevan, W.W. Tarn4h 14m3.9 (56)$1 · $0.00
A History of the Later Roman Empire (Vol. 1&2)J. B. Bury46h 19m4.4 (1.2K)$2 · $0.00
A History of the Later Roman Empire (Vol. 1&2) (Annotated)J. B. Bury46h 25m4.2 (202)$3 · $0.00
The Life of St. Patrick and His Place in HistoryJ. B. Bury5h 47m3.8 (63)$2 · $0.00
The Life of St. Patrick and His Place in History (Summarized Edition)J. B. Bury2h 35m$2
A History of Freedom of ThoughtJ. B. Bury5h 52m4.0 (789)$1 · $0.00
History of the Eastern Roman Empire (Summarized Edition)J. B. Bury3h 41m$2
A History of the Later Roman Empire (Summarized Edition)J. B. Bury8h 54m$2
The Hellenistic AgeJ. B. Bury, E.A. Barber, Edwyn Bevan, W.W. Tarn4h 23m4.0 (54)$1.99 · $0.00
History of the Eastern Roman Empire (Annotated)J. B. Bury15h 34m4.2 (32)$1.99 · $0.00
The Life of St. Patrick and His Place in History (Annotated)J. B. Bury6h 38m4.5 (12)$1.99 · $0.00
The Magic PresenceGodfré Ray King10h 21m4.6 (307)$1.20 · $0.00
The Art of LivingThich Nhat Hanh5h 1m4.5 (14.2K)$24 · $0.00
Moral Letters to LuciliusLucius Annaeus Seneca24h 26m4.5 (71.7K)$1.99 · $0.00
Lessons in TruthH. Emilie Cady3h 50m4.5 (2.4K)$20 · $0.00
Letters from a StoicSeneca6h 5m4.4 (80.4K)$6 · $0.00
The Discourses of EpictetusP. E. MATHESOM12h 47m4.4 (17.7K)$1.20 · $0.00
IlluminationsWalter Benjamin10h 12m4.4 (16.2K)$20 · $0.00
That Bird Has My WingsJarvis Jay Masters9h 49m4.4 (13.7K)$29 · $0.00
Tâo Teh KingLaozi2h 34m4.4 (230.9K)$2 · $0.00
SymposiumPlato3h 26m4.4 (97.9K)$1.20 · $0.00
Buddhist Boot CampTimber Hawkeye2h 39m4.4 (8.4K)$18 · $0.00
Enchiridion & The Discourses of Epictetus (Annotated)Arrian Epictetus18h 9m4.4 (3.5K)$2 · $0.00
The Meditations of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius AntoninusEmperor of Rome Marcus Aurelius5h 41m4.4 (1.8M)$1 · $0.00
Crime and PunishmentFyodor Dostoevsky23h 11m4.4 (1.3M)$12 · $0.00
MeditationsMarcus Aurelius5h 52m4.4 (433.7K)$1 · $0.00
Everyday DharmaSuneel Gupta5h 2m4.5 (761)$20 · $0.00
The Joyful Wisdom ("La Gaya Scienza")Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche11h 37m4.4 (26.6K)$1 · $0.00
The Art of LivingEpictetus, Sharon Lebell3h 16m4.4 (50.1K)$18 · $0.00
MeditationsEmperor Of Rome Marcus Aurelius7h 23m4.3 (477.5K)$1.20 · $0.00
The Imitation of ChristThomas à Kempis6h 27m4.3 (84.6K)$21 · $0.00
You may also like
OpticksIsaac Newton9h 10m4.4 (621)$2 · $0.00
Taoist Teachings From the Book of Lieh TzŭLie Yukou2h 40m4.2 (1.3K)$1 · $0.00
Drawing Dogs. Practical guide to drawing dogsRoberto Fabbretti14m4.4 (12)$10 · $0.00
Preliminary Discourse on the Study of Natural Philosophy (Annotated)John F. W. Herschel11h 59m4.2 (10)$1.99 · $0.00
18: Storytel Tech Podcast - Is Samsung S10 series a revolution?Storytel India13m$4 · $0.00
How to Make Money Flipping Reclaimed Building Materials - How to Identify Valuable Materials, Recover Them Safely, Prepare Them, and Resell for ProfitJACK FLIPWELL1h 55m$5.10
How to Make Money Flipping Used Electronics - How to Buy, Test, Price, and Resell Phones, Laptops, Tablets, and Game ConsolesJACK FLIPWELL4h 22m$5.10
How to Win Customers Every DayUnknown Author16m$17 · $0.00
How to Make Money Flipping Used Restaurant Equipment - How to Assess Equipment, Transport and Repair Costs, and Resell to Local BusinessesJACK FLIPWELL1h 57m$5.10
How to Make Money Flipping Bicycles - How to Find Underpriced Bikes, Plan Profitable Repairs, and Take Advantage of Seasonal DemandJACK FLIPWELL7h 57m$5.10
How to Make Money Flipping Musical Instruments - How to Spot Desirable Models, Assess Condition, Add Value, and Sell to MusiciansJACK FLIPWELL8h 54m$5.10
Coleção Comunicação & Políticas Públicas, Vol. 31Elói Martins Senhoras; Maurício Elias Zouein (organizadores)3h 45m$8 · $0.00
How to Make Money Reselling Clothes - How to Source, Photograph, Price, and Sell Secondhand Fashion OnlineJACK FLIPWELL5h 4m$5.10
Sweet Recipes For Your Electric Pressure Cooker Instant DessertsJideon F Marques2h 46m$11 · $0.00
O Atalho Para O InglêsIrineu De Oliveira Jnr3h 53m$6 · $0.00
The Client Changes Their Mind, but the Deadline Doesn't - How to Manage Scope Changes, Document Agreements, and Renegotiate Deadlines Without Delivering Three Projects for the Price of OneMax Paradox6h 9m$5.10
Brazilian Portuguese for Beginners: The Complete A1 Audio CourseMichele Cavalcante12h 5m$32 · $0.00
Delicious Orange RecipesMs Lacerda1h 11m$5 · $0.00
Inventions of the Past: 44 Books Reflecting on Centuries of Technological InnovationsJames P. Boyd, Henry White Warren, A. Russell Bond, Hattie E. Macomber, Ray Stannard Baker, S. E. Forman, Willis Duff Piercy, M. Grace Fickett, Gertrude L. Stone, Archibald Williams, Derek J. de Solla Price, Russell Doubleday, Henry Bore, John H. White, American Railway Association, John Kimberly Mumford, Edwin A. Battison, Samuel Smiles, Harry E. Maule, Arthur May Mowry, William A. Mowry, Henry E. Baker, Rupert Sargent Holland, Abraham Lincoln, H. W. L. Hime, Henry Robinson, Edward W. Byrn, Grace Rogers Cooper, George Iles, Henry Dircks, Robert Routledge, Helen C. Knight, Theodore Low De Vinne, H. C. Forster, Harry Chase Brearley, Alfred Vail, George Grant, Elmer Ellsworth Burns, Thomas W. Corbin, Paul Severing339h 39m$1.99 · $0.00
How to Make Money Flipping Fishing Gear - How to Evaluate Rods, Reels, and Accessories, Build Complete Kits, and Resell for ProfitJACK FLIPWELL6h 41m$5.10