Generally, the
guiding idea that we (or at least the properly "
civilized" nations of the world) are on an unending
March of Progress,
onward and upward Excelsior! Manifests in several different
flavors, including "
Technology is the savior of humankind" (popular in the
1950s), the increase of
Christian missionary work in the world, zooming
GDPs, and so on. Popular with
visionary capitalists,
conquistadors, and
politicians (on
national holidays only).
Periods of its greatest
currency include
the Renaissance, the
Age of Manifest Destiny (
USA), the
Age of Empire (
Britain), and the
1950s. Currently rather
out of fashion, having given way to the
declension metanarrative--they tend to
take turns.
It mostly tends to show up in stupid
futurology articles where they promise us
extended lifespans within the next
five years and other absurdly optimistic medical and technological claims; or in
patriotic speeches.