Progress by proxy: reflecting on the good life in the Anthropocene

Reflections on the ‘good life’ in the Anthropocene should include the role of proxies. A proxy represents and replaces something else, such as GDP representing welfare or stakeholder participation representing inclusion. The pathway of modernity is captured by proxies of progress. The essay discusses three affordances of proxies of progress: they provide targets that replace vague goals, they allow measurements and they provide a basis for comparison. In this way, proxies are a helpful means to go forward, but also blur the view and stand in the way of a proper engagement with the future. Reflections on the good life in the Anthropocene are highly needed, but should go beyond a path of progress by proxy.