Oral Anglais: l'idée de progrès

Idea of progress

First of all, the idea of progress supports the belief that we can improve the world in many categories: art, science, technology, liberty and quality of life. Our Western Civilization has certainly been improved by progress.

But in order to progress, important changes are necessary, which many people are opposed to, as it obliges them to change their traditions and deep-rooted beliefs.

Furthermore, certain artists and writers have studied progress and it’s consequences like Orwell, Huxley, Bradbury and Banksy, and have concluded that it is essential for Man.

However, although technological and scientific progress can be positive, it can also be highly destructive. We have discussed the various aspects of a surveillance society and also about biotechnology.

I. An Orwellian society

Today CCTV systems film all of everyday life in Britain’s towns and cities. This is a perfect way to catch criminals and vandals, but also can invade our privacy.

Also, Social Networks like Facebook have radically changed our lives in a positive way by enabling us to exchange information and keep contact with the world. Nevertheless, “innocent” data or photos shared between “friends” can rapidly be transformed into proof to incriminate employees or employers.

In 1984 Orwell describes a society which spies on everyone with cameras: “BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU”. He wanted to alert people to the dangers of dictatorship and censorship that progress can bring.

Technology has undeniably improved our lives but must be used with caution.

II. Brave New World

In this book Aldous Huxley imagines a society where humans’ functions are programmed before birth. He predicted the advances in biotechnology concerning artificial procreation such as cloning and in-vitro fertilisation and genetic selection. Indeed, before 1978, progress was used in medicine to save lives and cure diseases, but since, it can be adapted to create life. As in cloning and test tube babies, this raises many moral issues.

The main concerns today following the acceleration of progress in the last few decades are ethical, social and environmental.

We must bear in mind that all advances create new dangers. For example, does the new law “marriage for everyone” give us the right to create life by artificial means?

To conclude, progress can save many lives but inevitably will destroy many others.

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