You know what it is progressive For, although we hear this term in some contexts, the definition requires a better understanding of the origin and usage of the word. So, check out our post to learn more about this subject.

Learn more about progressive meaning

In this way, we will better understand what is the meaning of the word progressive. Thus, the term is related to a set of ethical, philosophical, and economic ideas. These thoughts are based on advancement in various areas for the betterment of the human condition.

Moreover, in the realm of politics, the meaning of progressive, according to the online dictionary Dicio, is connected with the leftist movement. Furthermore, progressivism promotes values such as equality and freedom, as it has a connection to the enlightenment.

Synonym for progressive

Some words are synonyms for progressive, such as:

• innovative;
• avant-garde;
• reformer;
• revolutionary;
• advanced;
• modern.

The relationship between the Enlightenment and progress

In this sense, the Enlightenment and progress have much in common. This is because this 18th century intellectual movement held that progress was something fundamental to human reason. It is worth pointing out that in this period, the Christian doctrine dominated Europe and the entire West.

Because of this, Enlightenment ideas were based on a philosophical revolution, the effects of the Enlightenment are felt to this day. So, some changes that occurred because of this movement were:

• terms of absolutist regimes, that is, total power in the monarchy;
• emergence of modern democracies;
• end of mercantilism;
• reason and science as the center of thought and no longer religious ideas;
• Secular State.

Positivism also influenced progress

Developed by Auguste Comte in the 19th century, positivism was seen as a very radical adoption of the values proposed by the Enlightenment. Furthermore, positivism explains that science is essential for social progress, for it is the only source of human knowledge.

In this way, the positivists even created a new religion: the religion of humanity. In fact, there is still a Positivist Church in Brazil today. Just out of curiosity, the motto "Order and Progress", inscribed on our national flag, was influenced by positivism.

So what are the differences between progressivism and conservatism?

In this sense, the two strands are quite different, one has a more reformist character and the other values the traditional. Another very fundamental aspect of this opposition is that both want to be guiding in social change.

While progressivism believes in reason, conservatism believes in tradition and faith Furthermore, the two disagree when it comes to the speed with which changes need to occur, because, for progressives, these changes need to be intense and rapid, which is why they differ from conservatives.

After all, is progressivism left-wing or right-wing?

Being very much associated with the struggle for social rights on behalf of minorities, progressivism is more related to the left. However, it is worth noting that although it has many similarities, progressivism is not a leftist doctrine.

This is because this movement can be adopted in other political strands. For example, liberal politics when it goes against the authoritarian placement of a traditional social order.

So, what is it to be a progressive person?

In general, a progressive person is in favor of political transformations, social reforms and progress. So he or she is a person who advocates political and social progress.

In fact, progressive people are linked to some political party, since these individuals believe in their ideas and want to put them into practice. Therefore, they are seen as agents of change.

Progressive Education: Some Theories

The term progress is used in several areas of our society, as well as in education. We know that teaching is a very important experience for our human and citizen formation. Because of this, there are several teaching trends, and one of them is progressive education.

Thus, within this progressive strand, there are three segments:

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• libertarian progressive;
• liberating;
• social-critical.

However, each one has its own and different characteristics. In general, however, progressive education analyzes the social context in which the student is inserted. In fact, the political aspect plays a role in the students' education. Thus, Paulo Freire is one of the main names of such ideas.

1 - Literary progressive school

This school believes that the teacher's role is to guide the student, without imposing ideas. Furthermore, it defends the line of thought that by forming a political consciousness in students, this action will result in a social achievement.

2 - Liberating progressive school

This school, on the other hand, believes that a horizontal education is necessary, where both the teacher and the student have fundamental roles in the learning process. In fact, according to this idea, education is the only way to change social reality, and the contents are taken from the students' daily lives.

3 - Critical-social progressive school

Finally, we will now talk about the critical-social school. This idea believes that the working group has the right to know. Because of this, the school is like a weapon in the fight against oppressions, a way to form this class in a social and political way.

Progress in other aspects in our daily life

It is not very difficult to find aspects of progress in our lives, after all we have this term in our flag. Moreover, it is only today that we can do so many things through technology, because of progressive people who believed and bet on their ideas .

However, progress is not something abstract, it is present in our daily life. Therefore, we brought some phrases on the subject to better reflect on this term. So, check them out below!

"Progress is impossible without change; therefore, those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything." (Author: George Bernard Shaw)

"The goal of an argument or debate should not be victory, but progress" (Author: Joseph Joubert)

"Man's progress is nothing more than a gradual discovery that his questions are meaningless." (Author: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry)

"The most important part of progress is the desire to progress." (Author: Seneca)

"Progress gives us so much that we have nothing left to ask for, to desire, or to throw away." (Author: Carlos Drummond de Andrade)

"The creative personality must think and judge for itself. Because the moral progress of society depends exclusively on its independence." (Author: Albert Einstein)

"Progress is nothing but the development of order." (Author: Auguste Comte)

"If we want to progress, we must not repeat history, but make new history" (Author: Mahatma Gandhi)

Final considerations on what it is to be progressive

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