"Progress is the injustice each generation commits with regard to its predecessors"

Emile M. Cioran’s assertion that “Progress is the injustice each generation commits with regard to its predecessors” encapsulates the paradoxical nature of human advancement. While progress is commonly celebrated as a positive force, Cioran challenges this optimism by suggesting that every stride forward comes at a cost, to the people, cultures, and values of the past. Each generation, fired by new discoveries, technologies, and ideals, inevitably deems its ways superior, often dismissing or devaluing the achievements, struggles, and wisdom of those who came before.

This critique highlights the tendency of societies to rewrite history in terms favorable to the present. Traditions are frequently recast as obsolete, previous norms labeled as unenlightened, and the complex realities of former times simplified for contemporary agendas. The notion of “injustice” arises from the lack of gratitude or humility towards ancestral efforts. Innovations and reforms are plastered atop the ruins of antiquated systems, which, however flawed, were once solutions to their own era’s problems. From the eradication of old languages and customs to the bulldozing of historic landscapes for new development, progress can be ruthless in its pursuit of novelty.

Moreover, the sentiment hints at the cyclical tragedy of forgetting, where each generation fails to fully appreciate that its sense of triumph might appear as arrogance or recklessness to those it leaves behind. The hard-won lessons, values, and sacrifices of prior ages risk erasure, their relevance dismissed by a society confident in its own correctness.

Rather than celebrating progress uncritically, Cioran’s reflection invites a sober contemplation of its double edge. True advancement would entail honoring the past, recognizing both its shortcomings and its indispensable role as the foundation for contemporary achievements. By doing so, future generations might temper the injustice of progress with empathy and historical awareness, fostering a more nuanced and respectful evolution of human society.