Surviving Progress
Humanity’s ascent is often measured by the speed of progress. But what if progress is actually spiraling us downwards, towards collapse? Ronald Wright, whose best-seller, “A Short History Of Progress” inspired “Surviving Progress”, shows how past civilizations were destroyed by “progress traps”—alluring technologies and belief systems that serve immediate needs, but ransom the future. As pressure on the world’s resources accelerates and financial elites bankrupt nations, can our globally-entwined civilization escape a final, catastrophic progress trap? With potent images and illuminating insights from thinkers who have probed our genes, our brains, and our social behaviour, this requiem to progress-as-usual also poses a challenge: to prove that making apes smarter isn’t an evolutionary dead-end.
Insights
Plot Summary
This documentary explores the concept of progress and its potential unsustainability in the modern world. It features interviews with leading thinkers who examine humanity's relationship with growth, resource consumption, and the technological advancements that drive them. The film questions whether our current path is leading to an inevitable collapse or a new form of existence. It delves into the complex interplay between economic systems, environmental limits, and our species' long-term survival.
Critical Reception
Surviving Progress received generally positive reviews, with critics praising its timely and thought-provoking examination of critical global issues. The documentary was commended for its intellectual depth and the caliber of its interviewees, who presented a compelling case for re-evaluating humanity's trajectory. While some found the subject matter bleak, most agreed that the film served as an important wake-up call regarding sustainability and the future of civilization.
What Reviewers Say
- A compelling and urgent examination of humanity's unsustainable progress.
- Features insightful contributions from prominent thinkers on growth and collapse.
- Provokes serious thought about our ecological and societal future.
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Fun Fact
The film features interviews with academics and thinkers like Robert Thurman, father of Uma Thurman, who provides insights into Buddhist philosophy's perspective on consumption and interconnectedness.
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