The progressive movement in the first 20 years of the 20th century. The upper-middle class urban white intellectuals are the core force of this movement.

/kloc-at the end of 0/9, the process of industrialization and urbanization and the wave of new immigrants caused political, economic and social chaos and caused the decline of traditional American moral values. Intellectuals hope to carry out extensive reforms with their professional knowledge. Wild horses in the period of drastic transformation of American society were tamed by science, reason and law, and moved towards a democratic, orderly and prosperous society that maintained traditional moral culture.

In the progressive era, the academic class supports and maintains the existing system and rationalizes it.

In the field of philosophy, idealism in traditional philosophy has been replaced by pragmatism.

The representative figure is william james.

Ward said: "Every tool and instrument, every mechanical device, every design, skill and labor, and every artifact that serves mankind are the victory of human mind over the unconscious and purposeless competition of natural material forces. American education attaches great importance to what Ward calls "applied sociology", that is, "the study of the evolution of social structure", and pays attention to the improvement of individuals and society. The importance of scientific participation in government in promoting human reproduction and well-being.