progressive thought
Reform-oriented ideas
Progressive thought is a political and social orientation favoring reform, change, and advancement toward greater equality and justice.
It typically emphasizes expanding civil rights, addressing systemic inequalities, and using government or collective action to solve social problems.
The term implies forward movement—progress—though what counts as progress varies by era and perspective: Progressive thought on criminal justice has shifted toward rehabilitation over punishment.
Often contrasted with conservative thought, which emphasizes tradition and incremental change.
- human rightsInalienable personal freedoms
- activismDirect effort for reform
- grass rootsOrdinary citizens as political base
- equalitySame status for all
- equal rightsIdentical legal protections
speaking out · education reform · free speech · rationalism · labor rights · freethinking · open mind · forward thinking · innovation · democracy · egalitarianism · common good · pragmatism · tolerance · environmentalism · emancipation · critical thinking · enlightenment
- Bengal RenaissanceBengal Renaissance, Calcutta, social reform, religious reform, education reform
progressive thoughtconservatism
Preference for existing institutions
conservative thought · right-wing ideology · paleoconservatism · neoconservatism · religious conservatism
progressive thoughtretrogression
Movement to earlier state
primitivism · revanchism · anti-modernism · counter-revolution · traditionalism