moral progress
Society becoming kinder
Moral progress is the idea that ethical standards improve over time—that societies can move toward greater justice, fairness, or human flourishing.
The concept implies moral knowledge isn't fixed but develops: The abolition of slavery represents moral progress.
Critics question whether such changes reflect genuine advancement or merely shifting values.
The term appears in philosophy, history, and debates about whether humanity is actually getting better.
- ethicalConforming to moral principles
- advancementForward movement or promotion
- evolutionSpecies changing over generations
- enlightenmentProfound spiritual awakening
- reformImprove by correcting faults
social justice · civil rights · human rights · justice · humanity · conscience · collective conscience · abolition · rights · equality · compassion · civilization · dignity · uplift · awakening · better angels · tolerance · empathy
- moral philosophyethics, consequentialism, utilitarianism, deontology, intuitionism
- enlightenmentVoltaire, Rousseau, Locke, Kant, Montesquieu
- bioethicsbioethics, medical ethics, genetic engineering, beneficence, non-maleficence
- ethicsdeontology, dignity, sanctity of life, utilitarianism, consequentialism
- ancient philosophyPlato, Aristotle, Socrates, Platonism, Epicureanism
- StoicismStoicism, Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, prohairesis, ataraxia
moral progressmoral decline
Erosion of ethical standards
moral decay · moral corruption · barbarization · moral collapse · decadence
moral progresstechnological advancement
Progress in applied science
technological progress · scientific progress · economic growth
moral, progress, morals, morally, morality, immoral, immorality, amoral, amorality