The idea of 'progress'

arose with the idea of the independent, improvable, imposable self
in its selfishness, self-regard, individualism, personal alienation,
romantic egotism and social isolation. 
But the second millennium saw the idea of 'progress'
starting to wane; while, on the other hand,
the Century of the Self and its utter banality
gave way to the Century of Ultimate Ambition,
The Great Escape from Reality.