How does Frederick the Great's idea of progress apply today?
The core of progress, as I understood it, lies in the relentless application of reason to improve the human condition and strengthen the state. This necessitates constant reform, the pursuit of knowledge, and the efficient administration of justice and public affairs. Today, nations still grapple with the challenge of fostering innovation while ensuring stability and the well-being of their citizens. The principle that a government should be dedicated to the common good, and that its leaders must be informed, rational, and utilitarian in their decision-making, remains as vital as it was in my time. The pursuit of an enlightened society, where reason guides policy, is a perpetual duty.
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