Human progress isn't measured by industry. It is measured by the value you place on a life. An unimportant life. A life without privilege.- The Doctor
I am back to ranting again...
It is easy to think about human progress in terms of how sophisticated we have become in our technological advancements, economic growth as well as industrial achievements. Every year we celebrate people who have done things that significantly move the needle of civilization towards better science, or fascinating infrastructure or even inventions that have changed the way we live today.
All of these make it easy to overlook the more profound measure of our progress as a species which is our value for human life, especially those lives that are deemed "unimportant".
It seems like every few decades, the human race in a part of earth gets involved in wars and killings in other to settle a matter. Then after years of fighting and numerous innocent people have lost their lives, we come to the table to negotiate- the very thing we could have done in the first place.
What defines progress?
In today's society we tend to measure progress by the degree of material achievements that we have amassed. We celebrate skyscrappers, very complex medical equipments and procedures, we see these things as the signature of a world that is progressive. And they are all wonderful. However, they veil our eyes from seeing the fundamental and most essential aspect of true progress: how we treat the people who are most vulnerable among us.
The homeless, those in abject poverty without the ability to fend for themselves, the elderly, the disabled- they are the lives that are often ignored whenever there is a conversation on human progress. We tend to talk about the scientists and the explorers and those who discovered things that have shown to be useful in our modern world.
What if we stop a while and consider that progress may not just be about all of that but how we treat the "unimportant" lives around us. What would happen if we begin to consider very strongly, as strongly as we consider science, the possibility that we could be very morally and ethically bankrupt compared to our fathers.
Maybe when we consider how the way we value the "unintelligent" and the "unfit", maybe we can begin to understand what true progress means. It seems like the more "progressive" we get, the more we develop weapons capable of wiping out the entire planet in seconds.
The Value of a "Valueless" life
When we learn to acknowledge every human being, irrespective of their economic status, background or contributions to society, when we learn that each individual life holds intrinsic worth, then maybe we are making a statement about the kind of world we want to live in.
Society reckons that some people are valueless. That is something that I do not think will change for a long time. But I believe that our growth as a species will be determined by how we treat those lives that are tagged valueless by society.
This is not about charity or showing pity, it is about recognizing that everyone has dignity and honor by being a human. It is knowing that the lives of those who are on the sidelines are important as well. This is what true progress is.
Compassion before Industry.
A man once said
if the poor man is hungry, the rich man in the neighbourhood is not safe.
The point is that neglecting the plight of the less privileged comes back to haunt the whole society as a whole. When we shift our focus from material things and put some focus on humans, and human relationships, we find that the society finds true progress.
What is the point of having the most beautiful building that can be vandalized by the hungry man on the street? Should we have beautiful buildings? Yes. Should hungry men vandalize beautiful buildings? No. The point is, we are truly progressive when we have a society where the poor man, the hungry man, the disabled, all have the basic needs cared for as a result of the progress that has been made.
For example, the progress we make in mental health should not be measured by how many facilities we have to hold people, it should be measured by the number of people who have been empowered to stand independently.
The Expensive Commodity:
History is replete with vital information showing us how dangerous it is to ignore the "unimportant". The French revolution of 1789 which lasted 10 yrs leading to the overthrow of the monarchy, The great Irish Famine of 1845, the civil rights movements of the 1950's, the list goes on.
The fabric of society gets weakened the more people of low class are marginalized.
Conclusion
As I end my rant, I think we should redefine how we measure progress in society. I am not saying that technological advancements shouldnt be celebrated. I am saying that we must not get so carried away by technology and infrastructure that we become oblivious to the value of human life.
We must endeavor to create a society that places human honor at the head of progress. We must learn to see progress in how we care for and uplift every single person, especially those who need it most.
Till I rant again...
I am Covenant, a Medical Doctor with a passion for holistic medicine-( fancy word for treating a patient as an individual and not just addressing their symptoms).
My focus lies in the deep connection between mental health and overall wellbeing, and I create content across various medical topics with an emphasis on mental health. Follow me for insights into holistic medicine and approaches to health and wellness.
Take a look at some of my work
The Dawn of the Age of Drugs Without Side-effects
It is a Lie: Life does not begin at 40
Holistic Health: Simplifying Medicine, One Post at a Time
𝐋𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐌𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐲: Examining Acute Bronchiolitis With The Hygiene Hypothesis
Time travel: A Medical "Doctor Who" Perspective
Breast Cancer and Depression: A historical and Modern Perspective.
The Witchcraft of Medicine: How Advances in Mental Health Compare to Historical Therapies
[Modern Breast Cancer Treatment: "Living Proof" Study]