Carr: Chapter 5, ProgressCarr makes the following points:

1. During the enlightenment intellectuals believed that progress could be attained by living in accord with the laws of nature;
2. to do so require self conscious reflection; living in accord with the laws of nature led to liberty
3. As education expanded more people became capable to this kind of reflection
4. In the 19th century the idea of progress was expanded and indeed much influenced by what was happening in science and technology
5. namely: through this process of reflection, humans now have it in their hands to affect and alter nature and society;
6. humans then can affect change as never before
7. there were ups and downs: fascism and soviet style communism represent attempts to implement such policies; but so does the pursuit of social justice.

What is your take on this kind of argument? is a developed historical consciousness ''useful" in determining policy and advancing the human condition? And how can we control the extreme forms?