Philosophy of History

“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”

• Martin Luther King Jr.

Does history have a direction? Are we gradually moving toward a more just, equal, and morally progressive world? When we look back at history, it is tempting to interpret major social and political changes as evidence of moral progress. But how do we define progress, and who gets to decide what a more just world looks like?

Join us for a discussion exploring whether humanity is moving toward some greater moral purpose. We will consider how different philosophical traditions have understood historical change and progress, drawing on thinkers ranging from Kant and Hegel to postcolonial and decolonial thinkers. We will question whether moral progress is an inevitable feature of history, an ideal we impose on the past, or something that must be actively created through resistance and social transformation. We will also consider whose histories are included in narratives of progress, whose experiences are overlooked, and whether what one society considers advancement might come at the expense of another.

No prior readings are required for discussions.