Obviously

martin schiller mschiller at mac.com
Fri Oct 20 18:03:51 PDT 2000


James Heartfield said on 10/20/00 1:44 PM


>Human existence is better because of progress. Printing presses, drains,
>indoor toilets, vaccinations, literacy and all those other things that
>make life worth living.

Printing gave us racial hate literature, religious tracts furthering intolerance, etc., from which spring wars and genocides.

The problems with plumbing and drains have caused far worse problems than they solved (kesterson), and by mixing chemicals with organic waste have removed a natural fertilizer from the organic cycle.

Vaccinations - well, I'm no scientist but it seems that the human species is less capable of developing immunities as a result. The role of progress in the evolution of HIV is yet to be proven.

Literacy? And education too. Are humans a lot more intelligent as a result?

Is global warming an effect of progress?

Your examples are not compelling arguments.



More information about the lbo-talk mailing list