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Cover of The Idea of Progress: An Inquiry into Its Origin and Growth

Philosophy · History

The Idea of Progress: An Inquiry into Its Origin and Growth

by J. B. (John Bagnell) Bury

Read The Idea of Progress: An Inquiry into Its Origin and Growth by J. B. (John Bagnell) Bury in English, with complete text and saved reading progress.

8 hr estimatedB2–C1 Linden levelRead now availability23 chapters
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Overview

About this book

The Idea of Progress: An Inquiry into Its Origin and Growth is available in the Project Gutenberg source edition credited to J. B. (John Bagnell) Bury. Catalog subjects include Progress; History -- Philosophy. This edition retains the source text, including any introductory material and notes.

First published
Unknown year
Language
English
Copyright status
Public domain

English level

B2–C1 · Deep reading

The Idea of Progress: An Inquiry into Its Origin and Growth is calibrated from 36,898 sampled words across 23 chapters: sentences average 23.8 words, 42.7% exceed 24 words and 12.5% of words are nine letters or longer.

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Sentence rhythm

What the prose asks

Extended sentences averaging 23.8 words, with 13.6% reaching 40 words or more

Vocabulary

What may slow you down

12.5% of sampled words contain nine or more letters; names and period vocabulary still vary by chapter

Reading rhythm

Medium commitment

Regular chapter-sized stopping points support a steady plan. About 16 calm 30-minute sessions.

Suggested approach

Read with momentum

Read in planned sessions and keep short notes on claims, evidence and changes in voice

Best starting point

Begin with chapter one

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CEFR-aligned Linden estimate · high confidence · sampled full text · Calibrated 2026-09-08 · Provisional, not an exam certification.

Table of contents

23 chapters

  1. 01AN INQUIRY INTO ITS ORIGIN AND GROWTH2 min
  2. 02PREFACE5 min
  3. 03INTRODUCTION25 min
  4. 04CHAPTER I. SOME INTERPRETATIONS OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY: BODIN AND LE ROY15 min
  5. 05CHAPTER II. UTILITY THE END OF KNOWLEDGE: BACON18 min
  6. 06CHAPTER III. CARTESIANISM18 min
  7. 07CHAPTER IV. THE DOCTRINE OF DEGENERATION: THE ANCIENTS AND MODERNS25 min
  8. 08CHAPTER V. THE PROGRESS OF KNOWLEDGE: FONTENELLE29 min
  9. 09CHAPTER VI. THE GENERAL PROGRESS OF MAN: ABBE DE SAINT-PIERRE20 min
  10. 10CHAPTER VII. NEW CONCEPTIONS OF HISTORY: MONTESQUIEU, VOLTAIRE, TURGOT8 min
  11. 11CHAPTER VIII. THE ENCYCLOPAEDISTS AND ECONOMISTS23 min
  12. 12CHAPTER IX. WAS CIVILISATION A MISTAKE? ROUSSEAU, CHASTELLUX. 1.19 min
  13. 13CHAPTER X. THE YEAR 244012 min
  14. 14CHAPTER XI. THE FRENCH REVOLUTION: CONDORCET18 min
  15. 15CHAPTER XII. THE THEORY OF PROGRESS IN ENGLAND21 min
  16. 16CHAPTER XIII. GERMAN SPECULATIONS ON PROGRESS30 min
  17. 17CHAPTER XIV. CURRENTS OF THOUGHT IN FRANCE AFTER THE REVOLUTION22 min
  18. 18CHAPTER XV. THE SEARCH FOR A LAW OF PROGRESS:14 min
  19. 19CHAPTER XVI. THE SEARCH FOR A LAW OF PROGRESS: II. COMTE29 min
  20. 20CHAPTER XVII. "PROGRESS" IN THE FRENCH REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENT (1830-1851)15 min
  21. 21CHAPTER XVIII. MATERIAL PROGRESS: THE EXHIBITION OF 185113 min
  22. 22CHAPTER XIX. PROGRESS IN THE LIGHT OF EVOLUTION20 min
  23. 23EPILOGUE2 min
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