Journey towards Progress in Life

Reading an article on ‘the Human Good,’ by Bernard J.F. Lonergan, in the book, Method in Theology, I came across a wonderful “Insight,” to make  Progress in Life.

            At the outset, I will like to share something about this great author. Bernard Joseph Francis Lonergan was born in Bucking ham, Quebec, on December 17, 1904. In 1936, Lonergan was ordained Jesuit Priest in Rome. His important works are, Insight: A study of Human Understanding and Method in Theology. Lonergan was made companion of the Order of Canada in 1970; the Catholic Theological Society of American presented him with the John Courtney Murray Award in 1972; he was made corresponding fellow of the British Academy in 1975, and he was awarded nineteen honorary doctorates. Thanks to his wide range of interest in theology, philosophy, human sciences and human studies, he has been called ‘the Christian thinker of the twentieth century.’

            What is Progress? Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines progress: the process of improving or developing or of getting nearer to achieving or completing something. According to Bernard Lonergan, progress consists in the integration of four elements:

Ø   Be attentive,

Ø   Be intelligent,

Ø   Be reasonable,

Ø   Be responsible.

            Let us see how Lonergan explains each point: Being attentive includes attention to human affairs. Being intelligent includes a grasp of hitherto unnoticed or unrealized possibilities. Being reasonable includes the rejection of what probably would not work but also the acknowledgment of what probably would. Being responsible includes basing one’s decisions and choices on an unbiased evaluation of short- term and long- term costs and benefits to oneself, to one’s group, to other groups. Thus, progress means balanced- growth in these four areas.

            Having seen the elements of Progress, it is also important to note the threat to Progress, which is, “Egoism.” It poses a great threat to Progress by disregarding others, concentrating on short- term benefits and overlooking long- term costs. Egoism is in conflict with the Progress. Development guided by group egoism is bound to be one-sided and creates two classes in society, the have and the have-nots. In other words, egoism causes decline in the society due to individual or group inattention, obtuseness, unreasonableness, irresponsibility.

            Therefore, Lonergan proposes transcendental precepts to be followed by individual and group. They are: Be attentive, Be intelligent, Be reasonable, Be responsible. These precepts promote Progress, so the refusal of self- transcendence turns Progress into cumulative decline. Lonergan concludes his article in these powerful words: “Finally, we may note that a religion that promotes self- transcendence to the point, not merely of justice, but of self-sacrificing love, will have a redemptive role in human society inasmuch as such love can undo the mischief of decline and restore the cumulative process of Progress.”

            Now the question is: Can you and I be a part of redeeming the world? Can I go beyond mere Justice and walk the path of self- sacrificing love? Can I transcend myself, my culture, my tribe, my religion, my nation, to build a true Progress of the whole humanity?

            Yes we can! No matter from what faith cast, tribe, language, culture, society, religion, and nationality we belong to. What we need is to: Be attentive, Be intelligent, Be reasonable, and Be responsible. This is how we can make Progress in our generation and prepare a way of Progress for the generations to come.