Meliorism

Meliorism (Latin "melior", “better”) is a philosophical approach that holds that progress is a real and meaningful concept, and that humans can consciously intervene in natural processes in order to improve the world. Meliorism is identified neither with naïve optimism, which claims that the world inevitably improves, nor with pessimism, which denies the possibility of improvement; instead, it argues that progress is a possibility contingent upon human action.

Meliorism and the conception of society

Meliorism is regarded as one of the intellectual foundations of contemporary liberal democracy and human rights in terms of its understanding of the individual and society. In this respect, it is closely related to liberalism. The meliorist approach maintains that human nature, social institutions, and living conditions are capable of improvement.

This line of thought significantly overlaps with transhumanism, which argues that humanity’s biological and cognitive limitations can be overcome. Both approaches share common goals, including:

• the belief that progress is possible,
• the central role of human reason, science, and technology,
• the reduction of suffering and the enhancement of quality of life.

Pragmatism and the meliorist tradition

An important interpretation of the meliorist tradition can be found in the American Pragmatic tradition, as developed in the works of Lester Frank Ward, William James, and John Dewey. However, William James’s understanding of meliorism should not be confused with progressivism or simple optimism. According to James, meliorism occupies a position between optimism and pessimism and treats the future of the world not as a certainty, but as a possibility shaped by human action.

This view is compatible with the position within transhumanism that holds that progress is not inevitable, but rather requires ethical responsibility and conscious intervention. Progress is not guaranteed; however, it remains possible.

Meliorist practice and the social dimension

The social dimension of meliorist practice is clearly reflected in the work of activist Jane Addams, a contemporary of the Pragmatists. Addams sought to strip the idea of progress of any elitist privilege and instead advocated the concept of “lateral progress.” This perspective emphasizes that progress should benefit not only privileged groups, but also ordinary people and disadvantaged populations.

This view parallels debates within transhumanism concerning inclusivity and justice, particularly those that emphasize universal access to technological and scientific advances.

Meliorism in the context of bioethics

Meliorism is also used as a concept in bioethical debates. In this context, meliorism refers to ethical positions that support the amelioration of conditions that cause suffering—even when such conditions have long existed—such as disease, disability, or aging, through scientific and technological means.

This understanding intersects with transhumanism particularly in the following areas:

• Life extension
• Anti-aging therapies
• Biomedical and genetic interventions

The idea of perfectibility

Another concept closely related to meliorism is the idea of human perfectibility, discussed by Jean-Jacques Rousseau and especially by Marquis de Condorcet. Condorcet argued that no principled limits can be placed on the development of human capacities and that humanity possesses a continuous potential for progress. This view can be regarded as an early precursor to transhumanism, which extends the idea of improvement beyond social conditions to cognitive and biological dimensions as well.

Rousseau’s treatment of this idea is more cautious, addressing the notion of progress in a more limited manner compared to Condorcet.

Modern meliorist approaches

The meliorist tradition has continued into the modern era through thinkers such as Hans Rosling and Max Roser. Within the framework of Our World in Data, Roser articulated a meliorist stance by arguing that the following three statements are simultaneously true:

• The world is much better than it used to be.
• The world is still full of serious problems.
• The world can be much better.

This approach strikes a balance between optimism and pessimism, emphasizing humanity’s capacity to improve the world through data, science, and technology. Such a position aligns with the cautious yet hopeful understanding of progress commonly found within contemporary transhumanism.