Readings on: The history of the idea of progress

Bury, J. B., The Idea of Progress Dover Publications, New York 1955 [abridged— 1000 words] [abstract— 140 words]— belief in progress is an act of faith

Golden, Richard Notes on the concept of progress [1300 words] [abstract– 220 words] — information on the different kinds of progress

Randall,Jr., John Herman, The Making of the Modern Mind [abridged— 790 words] [abstract– 170 words] — the idea that reason and science will make human progress inevitable