The Illusion of Progress: Are We Really More Evolved Than Our Ancestors?

• Modern progress often conceals true evolution, favoring technology over inner growth.
• Ancient civilizations offer lessons in empathy, sustainability, and community.
• True evolution balances innovation with ethics and ancestral wisdom.

“A person who is not disturbed by happiness and distress, and is steady in both, is certainly eligible for liberation.” – Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 2, Verse 15

Ancient wisdom distinguished human evolution in subjective terms, not by inventions or wealth. It valued inner equilibrium, strength and command of self. Today, however, progress gets measured by how complex our technologies are or how connected we are to the internet. 

We praise these external success stories but are still deeply troubled inside. We frequently struggle with anxiety, class division and an insatiable hunger for material wealth. This reveals a troubling paradox: our tools have gotten smarter, but our capacity for peace and balance has not. 

Therefore, progress may give the illusion of ‘growth’, but true growth requires consciousness and values. Without these, can we genuinely say we are more evolved than our ancestors?

Rethinking Human Evolution in the Age of Progress

Biological evolution is a slow process of adaptation, survival, and natural selection. It deals with the body and its ability to endure change over thousands of years. People, however, tend to confuse evolution with cultural and technological progress. Culture and technological evolution occur at a dramatic pace. For instance, smartphones now connect continents, shrinking distances instantly. Artificial intelligence tends to mimic human thought. Medicines continue to extend human life expectancy. Yet, none of these evolutionary advances signifies human evolution. While evolution enables living beings to survive, progress allows for convenience and power. 

Contradictions in Modern Life

Modern life is rife with contradictions. We arguably have access to the greatest general knowledge ever, but misinformation has never spread more quickly than the truth. We design machines to ‘save time,’ only to fill that saved time with more ‘busyness.’ Social media allows people to connect instantly, while also being entrapped in the performance of curated images of happiness. Additionally, climate change driven by unrestrained consumption, threatens any form of survival that biological evolution once assured. 

While our ancestors had none of the digital conveniences that we take for granted, they exhibited more resilience. They had stronger community ties and enjoyed a respectful closeness with nature. Considering human evolution today raises important questions. Does innovation equate to evolution? Or should growth be more accurately assessed in the circle of wisdom and compassion?

Ancient Wisdom vs. Modern Advancements 

Our modern society glorifies technological advancements. But many ancient cultures had knowledge systems that served as innovative mechanisms for navigating their environment. These systems were based on spirituality, ecology, and engineering in some form. The Harappans had advanced drainage systems. The Egyptians built monuments that aligned with stars. Indigenous cultures assisted in the development of their agricultural practices, corresponding to each of nature’s cycles. This was done without risking the earth’s sustainability and existence. The advancements of our ancestors were more about systems of integration and living in nature, rather than living above nature.

Modern advances are largely external. We judge our progress by GDP, goods produced, technology created and digital access, while looking at innovation as inherently progressive. The yearning for external advancement has resulted in consumerism, unbalanced ecosystems and a loss of spirituality. As machines grow smarter, our inner capacities for empathy and contentment become stagnant. Our ancestors inform us what it means to be human, which is more than clever devices. Arguably, the real question is not how advanced we are. It is how aligned we are- with ourselves, our communities and the planet that sustains us. 

The Cost of Progress

Human progress is often measured in terms of technology and material comfort. When examined morally, socially, and environmentally, the picture is far less appealing. In the past, people fought and won battles with swords and arrows. Now, war causes damage beyond our understanding. The atomic bombs that hit  Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 killed more than 200,000 people. This tragedy didn’t teach us much. Even now, nations hold nuclear weapons that have the power to wipe out all life on Earth. Drones and AI weapons provide distance from the battlefield, making killing easier and devastating. 

Social Costs

At the same time, the social inequalities with which civilizations grappled through millennia are all too alive. There is global awareness of caste discrimination, where millions are still marginalized in India. Systemic racism still rages in the USA and many other countries. Gender based pay gaps and violence against women are still common in every country. 

On an individual level, social connections have become shallow. Social media connects people across the globe. Too often, it initiates isolation, relentless comparison, and anxiety, rather than empathy, connection, or belonging. 

Environmental Costs

In addition to society, Nature has also been affected. The Industrial Revolution provided machines, electricity, and factories. But it also brought in mass deforestation, pollution, and the modern climate crisis. The new digital revolutions provide convenience and connectivity. Except for the added energy consumption, e-waste, and high carbon footprint, it adds to the damage done to the environment. This external damage is compounded by the internal damage. Stress levels remain chronically high in modern life. 

Loneliness continues to increase across societies. Mental health challenges are rising at ever-faster rates. These serve to demonstrate that psychological well-being is failing to keep pace with accumulated wealth and material goods. As we produce more, we often become restless and dissatisfied. 

From this perspective, progress looks paradoxical. It offers comfort and power but undermines the moral, social, and ecological fabric that defines humanity. 

Redefining What It Means to be Evolved 

To be ‘evolved’ is more than just being advanced in our technology. It is to be evolved in our empathy, sustainability, and wisdom. Our ancestors, though lacking modern machines, often lived in greater harmony with nature and community. They have left us lessons we cannot afford to ignore. Modern tools that we have built have immense potential. But if we aren’t responsible with them ethically, they certainly will drive a deeper wedge of inequality among resources. This will lead us to an ecological collapse. Evolution is therefore not a linear experience, but a balancing act between speed of innovation and the integrity of conscience. A truly advanced society combines the lessons of its ancestors with new advancements. That allows us to nurture both humanity and the planet.

Perhaps evolution is not a ladder we climb, but a circle we complete. It has to unite outer progress with inner growth. Our ancestors teach us resilience. Our age gives us innovation. The future asks us to weave the two together. As Rabindranath Tagore beautifully wrote, “The highest education is that which does not merely give us information but makes our life in harmony with all existence.”