While discussing the progress of civilisation, the question arises as to what should be the criteria for evaluating progress or otherwise.

Should civilisational assessment be made on the basis of progress of science and technology, development of equipment and facilities for ensuring a comfortable living, and advancement in medical science that now successfully treat what was once considered as terminal illnesses?

Alternatively, should civilisation be evaluated on the basis of the betterment of thought process and tolerance among humans?

While technological advancement and consequent betterment of lifestyle comforts as well as communication facilities have certainly happened steadily and progressively, the ground reality is that such material advancements have not resulted in improvement in human happiness index. In such case, one has to conclude that the various material advancements which are supposed to contribute to improve the human happiness index have no real impact on human behaviour.

In such conditions, it is appropriate to consider that the criteria for assessment of the progress of civilisation should be the progress in the thought process and outlook of humans. When considering such criteria, it becomes clearly evident that human civilisation over the centuries have not progressed at all and virtually remains stagnant.

Historically, it has been seen, as described in several epic stories, that human life in the past had been marked by war, crimes, jealousy, hate feelings, vengeance, one-upmanship, and so on. Today, similar conditions continue to remain at the same level. The reasons mentioned for conflicts, war, and physical violence in the past are the same that are now attributed for such despicable behaviour of humans, with violence and conflicts at the national and individual level almost becoming the order of the day.

Many religious texts that have evolved over the past several centuries, stressing the need for love and compassion, have not changed the behaviour of humans in the past and appears to have no visible impact and influence over human activities in the present day-to-day life as well. The same religious texts and preachings that existed in the past continue to be there at the present time also with no visible improvement in the mental make-up of humans.

The reasons that caused the World Wars are nearly the same that have caused the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war or the Iran war. This obviously indicate that the world remains conflict-ridden all the time both in the past and at present, with the same level of intensity.

In the historical time as well as at the present time, there have been no dearth of peace advocates and good people calling for giving up the negative behaviour. However, these people are very few and far between then and now and have no visible impact in shaping the human civilisation.

Sophisticated arms are being developed and every nation is strengthening the defence forces either to attack or to defend, which only reflects the fact that no one believes that the world would get rid of violence and hate feelings at any time. Just like the nations, individuals also suffer from a feeling of insecurity and want to strengthen themselves in one way or the other to face the eventualities that would be caused in a scenario of faithlessness and mutual suspicion.

Any hope that humans would attain the desirable level of progress in civilisation appears to be a Utopian and far-fetched vision.

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