“Under the right conditions, societies become a vast decentralized problem-solving network that generates progress.”
By right conditions, I assume you mean something beyond the 5 preconditions. Correct?
What is the role of liberal philosophical worldview (such as Locke and Smith), and the liberal institutions that emerge out of this worldview (rule of law, representative government, property rights, free markets, freedom of speech and assembly, science, etc) in creating these conditions? Is this liberal mind set necessary?
Yes, I believe that the Five Keys to Progress are the five preconditions, along with normal human behaviors listed in this article that have been in existence for hundreds of thousands of years.
I believe that liberal institutions emerged in Commercial societies long before Locke, Smith and the Enlightenment. They observed what was already going on around them and pointed out their importance to others.
So essentially the Enlightenment was the result of material progress, not a cause, although it certainly helped to accelerate the trend and give it more moral legitimacy. The biggest impact was in science, art and philosophy.
Most societies that experienced a transition from poverty to rapid economic growth did not have liberal governments. USA, UK and the Anglo nations are the main examples. Far more made the transition under some sort of an authoritarian government.
I think what liberal institutions and beliefs,however, do is make it harder for elites to undermine the trend for their own self-interest once the progress has already started.
One other point: even in wealthy Western nations the “liberal mindset” is relatively rare. And Classical Liberalism or Libertarianism is not a very popular vote choice. So in addition to not being a cause of material progress, it is not even clear that the liberal philosophical view is necessary for the formation of all those other things you list.
Don’t get me wrong. I wish there was more of it, but somehow the West got there with only a minority being truly committed to those values.
“Under the right conditions, societies become a vast decentralized problem-solving network that generates progress.”
By right conditions, I assume you mean something beyond the 5 preconditions. Correct?
What is the role of liberal philosophical worldview (such as Locke and Smith), and the liberal institutions that emerge out of this worldview (rule of law, representative government, property rights, free markets, freedom of speech and assembly, science, etc) in creating these conditions? Is this liberal mind set necessary?
Thanks for the comment.
Yes, I believe that the Five Keys to Progress are the five preconditions, along with normal human behaviors listed in this article that have been in existence for hundreds of thousands of years.
I believe that liberal institutions emerged in Commercial societies long before Locke, Smith and the Enlightenment. They observed what was already going on around them and pointed out their importance to others.
https://frompovertytoprogress.substack.com/p/how-and-why-commercial-societies
So essentially the Enlightenment was the result of material progress, not a cause, although it certainly helped to accelerate the trend and give it more moral legitimacy. The biggest impact was in science, art and philosophy.
I go into more detail here:
https://frompovertytoprogress.substack.com/p/did-the-enlightenment-cause-modern-cf3
Most societies that experienced a transition from poverty to rapid economic growth did not have liberal governments. USA, UK and the Anglo nations are the main examples. Far more made the transition under some sort of an authoritarian government.
I think what liberal institutions and beliefs,however, do is make it harder for elites to undermine the trend for their own self-interest once the progress has already started.
You might be interested in reading this series on Liberalism:
https://www.persuasion.community/p/a-peoples-history-of-free-speech?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=61579&post_id=149970998&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=lc6rb&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
I tend to think that it overstates the accomplishments of Liberalism, but it is still fascinating.
One other point: even in wealthy Western nations the “liberal mindset” is relatively rare. And Classical Liberalism or Libertarianism is not a very popular vote choice. So in addition to not being a cause of material progress, it is not even clear that the liberal philosophical view is necessary for the formation of all those other things you list.
Don’t get me wrong. I wish there was more of it, but somehow the West got there with only a minority being truly committed to those values.