Progress and Regression

A landmark work of social and political philosophy that finds this leading heir to the Frankfurt School at the height of her powers. Despite widespread technological innovation, scientific and medical breakthroughs, and strides toward gender and racial equity, few believe that humanity is on the road of progress. Indeed, many are increasingly skeptical of the very notion of progress, seeing it as the stuff of hollow political speeches. Nevertheless, this impassioned book argues that we are lost without a shared idea of progress. In the tradition of critical theory, Rahel Jaeggi defends a vision of progress that avoids Eurocentric and teleological distortions. Progress here is not an inevitable developmental trend but a kind of compass directing society's never-ending journey toward emancipation. A nimble practitioner of dialectical reasoning, Jaeggi revitalizes progress by confronting its opposite: regression. Her analysis-sober and thoughtful, but urgent-reckons with the myriad signs of regression today, including growing inequality, ecological destruction, and above all the assault on educational institutions, critical thinking, and reason itself. The task of imagining a human solidarity capable of transcending difference and promoting universal welfare has seldom been more pressing-or more complex. Progress and Regression is an indispensable resource for those ready to take up the challenge.

About the author

Rahel Jaeggi is Professor of Practical Philosophy with an emphasis on Social and Political Philosophy and Director of the Center for Humanities and Social Change at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. She is the author of Critique of Forms of Life, Alienation, and, with Nancy Fraser, Capitalism: A Conversation in Critical Theory.Robert Savage is an award-winning translator of books from German.

Product details

• Authors: Rahel Jaeggi, Jaeggi Rahel
• Assisted by: Savage Robert (Translation)
• Publisher: Harvard University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 07.10.2025
• EAN: 9780674298019
• ISBN: 978-0-674-29801-9
• No. of pages: 248
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Philosophy: antiquity to present day; Social Theory, PHILOSOPHY / Political, POLITICAL SCIENCE / History & Theory, PHILOSOPHY / Movements / Analytic, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Sociology / Social Theory, Social & political philosophy, Political science & theory, social and political philosophy, Political science and theory, Analytical philosophy & Logical Positivism, Analytical philosophy and Logical Positivism