This paper examines the thesis that progress is
learning through past
experience in which people manage to ameliorate their
social and intellectual circumstances and how this should be a continuous process in sustaining life in this world. It explores how the three works, 'An American Childhood' by Annie Dillard, 'On Liberty' by Mill, and 'Consilience' by Wilson, can all be used as examples to expose the importance of learning through one's
experience. It looks at how these texts are considered to be useful ones for this purpose because of the fact that they help one to understand how
progress can or should be attained.