Social progressivism 2103332 212798903 2008-05-16T09:14:22Z SteveSims 1841032 {{Unreferenced|date=March 2008}} {{Liberalism}} {{Progressivism}} '''Social progressivism''' is the view that social [[mores]], [[human nature]], and [[morality]] are capable of progress through history in a manner similar to that of scientific knowledge. Social [[progressivism|progressives]] believe that there is no inherent value in [[tradition]]. They argue that all social arrangements - including [[marriage]], the [[family]] and [[gender roles]] - are not fixed; rather, they should be changed or updated whenever such a change is for the greater good of society or it benefits the people who wish to engage in those social arrangements. The opposite of social progressivism is called [[social conservatism]] or social regressivism. Social progressives believe that some historical mores are wrong or dogmatic and that present knowledge gained from science and philosophy has disproved many traditional beliefs. In the past, social progressives advocated the [[Women's suffrage|right to vote for women]]. Today, social progressivism in [[Western world|the West]] generally supports [[same-sex marriage]], [[birth control]], and women's right to choose an [[abortion]]. However, social progressives throughout the world advocate a wide variety of different social changes, and separate groups of social progressives may oppose each other because they support change in different directions. For instance, social progressives may be either [[Left-wing politics|left-wing]] or [[Right-wing politics|right-wing]], depending on the kind of social mores they wish to change vis-à-vis the status quo. A social progressive advocating [[drug-legalization]] in the [[United States]] would be seen as left-wing, whereas a social progressive campaigning to outlaw [[recreational drugs]] in the [[Netherlands]] would be seen as right-wing. In Canada the former federal [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive Conservative Party]] often combined a social progressive agenda with a right-wing economic agenda, such as Canadian Prime Minister [[Brian Mulroney]]'s advocation of action on environmental issues, such as acid rain, and support of [[multiculturalism]], while advocating a [[neoliberal]] economic agenda. The term ''social progressivism'' is not to be confused with ''[[social liberalism]]''. Even though both ideologies overlap considerably, the latter refers to a specific kind of [[liberalism|liberal]] [[ideology]] (see [[social liberalism|the relevant article]] for more information). ==External links== *[http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1061.html The Progressive Movement in USA] [[Category:Liberalism]] [[Category:Progressivism]] [[Category:Political science terms]] {{polisci-stub}} [[nl:Sociaal progressivisme]]