To understand what 'progress' really is, or what it can mean for us, we need to associate our observations in the real world with our definition of the term. First, let us ascertain whether an attribute of any real system that is changing in some logical and forceful manner, can represent 'progress'? Similarly, we might determine 'regression', and then further refine the two. We might relate progress to the emergence and continuation of 'existence' (particularly, the management of existence within living systems), versus a 'regressive' loss of survivability (succumbing to the maximization of 'entropy' in these systems). Can any perceived assessment of progress be based on Reality?

To clarify, we can distinguish between the 'progress of Reality' occurring within any part of the universe (involving processes of 'emergence', 'destruction', the 'flow of time, energy, and information', 'physical change', etc.), and our 'perceived ideas of progress' such as might be determined within any social group (developing various 'ideas', 'truths', 'opinions', 'definitions', etc.). Each of these distinctions may compare very differently from the others, or share similarities and relationships. What is the 'rate' of any form of progress? How can different perceptions of 'progress' compete with each other over time, within society and inside our minds? Is any form of progress a measurable force, having magnitude and direction? What determines the 'attributes' of progress — as we might relate them to the logical rules associated with Reality, and as we might come to understand them within a socially managed human mind?

The actual acquisition and management of real and available resources in a continuously changing environment, concomitant with the development of adaptive skills to acquire real strengths and solve real problems, can define the real progress made by a living system. This relates survivability to continuing the capabilities of resourceful existence, adaptation, and real progress over time. Complicating matters, humans might also find it strategically advantageous for social 'success' — viability within a social system — to evaluate 'progress' on the basis of common perceptual ideas not necessarily based on Reality (or, long-term survival).

The Reality of any situation — that is, the set of real challenges and opportunities present in any environment — will conflict with ill-contrived, wrongly perceived, misguided ideas of strength or purpose, or the mismanagement of resources, or incorrect adaptations, and will generally result in a lack of real progress over time. What is the rate of any perceived progress — real, or imagined? How important is it to keep up a sustained rate of real progress, despite the presence of any ill-conceived ideas of progress within any contrived social framework? These distinctions highlight the challenges we all face when determining what progress we are really making over the long term.

There can be competition between real, imagined, and defined ideas of progress. There are real dangers of being unable to distinguish real progress from that which is imagined, contrived, defined, or misperceived. We can become inextricably dependent on misguided ideas of progress that results in real damage and destruction (a regression).

"...we can distinguish between the 'progress of Reality' occurring within any part of the universe (involving processes of 'emergence', 'destruction', the 'flow of time, energy, and information', 'physical change', etc.), and our 'perceived ideas of progress' such as might be determined within any social group (developing various 'ideas', 'truths', 'opinions', 'definitions', etc.)."

— B. Human - Reality Reveals (7-1)

It can help if we acknowledge that any 'real progress' that we could measure, or achieve, can only be accomplished with respect to the rate at which real challenges actually present themselves and are recognized. We can gain real strengths from truly understanding the real challenges we face. Maybe the greatest real challenges we face involve staying ahead of the rate at which we do real damage with ill-conceived ideas of 'progress' — within dangerously ill-contrived 'worlds' of our own making? If 'damage' is really occurring at some rate (whether we know it, or not), then the rate of any 'real' progress we actually make will be particularly relevant to our continued survival. Are we adequately repairing the damage we (as members of a society) do in the real world? Are we breaking even? If not, then some 'destruction' is inevitable... regardless of whether we recognize it.

You could even choose to call your complete annihilation 'progress' (foolishly, pathologically, or ignorantly), and regardless of your intentions, 'Reality' will accommodate your destruction. Or, you could be realistic about the real challenges and progress you actually experience in the real world, and Reality will accommodate your continued survival and prosperity. For many reasons, this can present difficult 'choices' for anyone to recognize and make — to accept the Reality of life's challenges and gain strengths from them — in order to make real progress. Reality will always take everything into account and continue accordingly (inherent to its rules of logic and physics). We must be able to accurately and honestly evaluate the Reality of our condition on a continuous basis.

Governments must allow their citizens to make real progress. Governments must continue to make real progress. Any government will ultimately fail that does not promote and nurture a reality-based society that is adequately equipped to respond to emerging challenges and understands that these are the requirements for continuing progress (See 'Footnotes' below).

• Reality
• Truth
• Creativity
• Progress
• Adaptation
• Choice

Footnotes:

'Progress' also alludes to a relationship between real emergence throughout the universe and that of ourselves — not just in terms of our physical existence, but also as it involves our ideas and creative imaginations. Even outlandish musings can have a greater purpose in keeping us connected to the vital forces of Reality! We might come to enjoy the contrasts we can derive from our weird ideas, behaviors, and thought experiments. Individually, or collectively, we can test our worlds and ourselves and exercise our ability to explore such creations, and yet remain 'sane' (When appropriately embraced, there can be wonderful 'fine lines' to balance between 'weird', 'unusual', 'exceptional', 'abnormal', 'crazy', and 'sane'.). Some of our weird ideas offer valuable new insights and opportunities for progress. Beware of edicts of 'normalcy', or conformity. Any healthy society is an openly creative and diverse one.

Everywhere, in everything, there is mirrored the chaos of emergence.

It is interesting how 'entropy', when combined with 'progress', can become a motive-force that can drive living systems. There is a wave-like nature to progress (as with everything in the universe). Progress is really all about staying in that sweet spot where time, energy, and information can be harnessed to offset entropy (which is a return to lower, more stable, states of time, energy, and information). Progress cannot occur without the time, energy, and information that present themselves in the form of life's challenges, which must then be converted into the forms (processes stored and utilized) that sustain living systems over time. Life, too, rides the waves that manifests it.

A note about real progress versus 'selfishness'. Many have ignorantly touted the perceived benefits of selfishness — making perceived progress only for themselves, of course. However, what is really going on amounts to an inability, or an unwillingness, to participate in overcoming real challenges (and gaining the real strengths that can come from that hard work). It is a type of arrested development. Selfishness often devolves into lying, cheating, stealing, resentment, discrimination, bigotry, hate, and abuse. It is a way of making excuses for various dependencies and associated conditions of laziness, apathy, complacency, indifference, inhumanity, greed, gluttony, entitlement, ignorance, gullibility, brainwashing, and, above all: fear and cowardice. These behaviors then feed on themselves — resulting in greater extremes of abhorrent behavior. Selfishness is weak, irresponsible, destructive, and regressive.

It may seem advantageous when the power of destruction, or entropy, is mistaken as a short-cut to progress! Maybe, it is just a short-cut to some selfish satisfaction. Maybe, it is a coping mechanism for those who self-consciously feel, or know, they are not making real progress — they think they cannot succeed any other way? In such improper contexts — where time, energy, and information are purposely diminished — one can be made to believe that they can profit something (imaginary power, success, or satisfaction) from regressive behaviors, or through some scheme! This is a common misconception that is often very destructive. In fact, the more people who are suckered into such deceptions does not validate the deception, the deceiver, or the deceived! It only increases the destruction.

One must maintain a perspective on progress that is based in Reality, respects the efforts and contributions of many, and considers all that is vital to forming the greater living systems that we must maintain. Life can only continue in a contributive effort for the common good. Life is a product of shared time, energy, and information. Contrary to 'proponents of selfishness', 'fascists', 'sociopaths', and 'brainwashed numskulls', we are all connected to form a complex shared biosystem in which we each depend upon the richness of many lives, lived together in a diversity of challenging ways.