It has. Often. More often than not, in fact. But not always. There have been periods of greater suffering and lost progress.
The trend of good’s prevalence is a matter of history. It’s been called the zeitgeist (Hegel) which evolves over time, a trajectory we can evaluate in hindsight.
In particular, knowledge, the value of life, our collective moral understanding and enumeration of human rights all trend upward over time.
But if by “prevail” we mean a kind of universal perfection, where all forms of suffering are eradicated and only joy and pleasure remain, then no, good cannot prevail. If it did, good would cease to exist, denied its fundamental nature as an evolving concept.
It has. Often. More often than not, in fact. But not always. There have been periods of greater suffering and lost progress.
The trend of good’s prevalence is a matter of history. It’s been called the zeitgeist (Hegel) which evolves over time, a trajectory we can evaluate in hindsight.
In particular, knowledge, the value of life, our collective moral understanding and enumeration of human rights all trend upward over time.
But if by “prevail” we mean a kind of universal perfection, where all forms of suffering are eradicated and only joy and pleasure remain, then no, good cannot prevail. If it did, good would cease to exist, denied its fundamental nature as an evolving concept.