ABSTRACT

Laying the foundation for moral thinking as it has progressed over the past century, this chapter initiates the discussion about the discrepancy in perceiving progress as it happened in much of the 20th century and before, compared to contemporary insights. In previous centuries, humanity focused on growth and innovation without considering the long-term (and sometimes even the short-term) effects on nonhuman life or the environment. Even human well-being was considered within specific parameters, whereby the powerful ones were held to different standards than those who were assigned to hard labor.