About us
Image: A Seaport at Sunrise by Claude Lorrain, oil on canvas, 1674
PURPOSE: an in-person reading & discussion group engaging with the history of science, technology, and industry to understand how these have and can best support human flourishing.
CONTEXT: For an introduction to progress studies or the progress movement, see Why Study Progress, We Need a New Philosophy of Progress, We Need a New Science of Progress or more resources.
WHEN & WHERE: Wednesday evenings, monthly, at Vintage Bookstore and Wine Bar. Readings are posted on meetup several weeks in advance.
CONTENT: Readings typically consist of 2-4 essays, articles, or blog posts on a chosen topic in the history science, technology, or industry combined with forward looking positional writing from WIP, IFP, Roots of Progress, or the like. However, in 2026 we will focus a bit more on books. For reference, past readings have looked at: the concept of progress, the blast furnace and steel production, factory safety and the toyota production system, progress glamour, industrial literacy, pandemic prevention, pallets, standards, and food history, among others.
PARTICIPATION: No prior engagement with progress studies or the broader community is necessary. We welcome curious minds interested in progress, humanism, and agency—whether you’re deeply invested or just exploring. Expect a range of viewpoints and constructive, thoughtful dialogue. Readings investigate both historical successes (to build on) and failures (to learn from); participants tend to have a positive or interested view of technological development on the whole, but critiques are common and respectful, engaged skepticism is welcome too. Interrogate the readings as much as you can in advance and come with questions and comments - if you only have time to do a quick read through, then come curious.
FORMAT:
1 - Intros
2 - Light context on first reading
3 - General reactions
4 - Deeper dive
Upcoming events
1
The Techno-Humanist Manifesto, Ch. 4
Vintage Bookstore and Wine Bar, 1101 E 11th St,,, Austin, TX, USPre-reading:
Chapter 4 ofThe Techno-Humanist Manifesto by Jason Crawford:- Human well-being as a life of goal-pursuit and value-achievement (Ch. 4, part 1) - ~2,500 words, ~11 min
- How spiritual values form a part of well-being (Ch. 4, part 2) - ~4,500 words, ~20 min
As an optional counterpoint, consider this ambivalent historical take from Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville (1840):
- Why the Americans Show Themselves So Restive in the Midst of Their Well-Being (Vol. 2, Part 2, Ch. 13) - ~1,400 words, ~7 min
When & where: Discussion will be at 7PM on Wednesday November 18 - we meet at Vintage Wine Bar & Bookstore (google) - 1101 E 11th St - typically upstairs, else downstairs in the far back corner down the hall to the right of the bar.
Who should join?
We welcome curious minds interested in progress, humanism, and agency—whether you’re deeply invested or just exploring. No prior engagement with progress studies or the broader community is necessary. Expect a range of viewpoints and constructive, thoughtful dialogue.Image: The Stages of Life - Youth, by Thomas Cole, via wikimedia commons - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Thomas_Cole_-The_Ages_of_Life-Youth-_WGA05140.jpg
5 attendees
Past events
31
