I don't know what you define progress as, but much of the "progress" we are having now is just perfecting and carrying over breakthrough discoveries in research that have happened in the previous century. Real progress is always slow. What I am saying is: if people didn't have to worry about time and money, a lot more would be doing meaningful things.

By the way the main reason why I am so passionate about Bitcoin is it gives back time to people, because if their savings are not stolen from they don't to worry about money AS MUCH. 

 Ok.
But 20 people living 100 years consecutively are much more productive (in ideas, investigation, passion, creativity, etc.) than just a person living 2000 years.

We need generational change to happen in order to some progress to be established in our societies.

Most people older than 60 years old (i.e.) will never understand Bitcoin proposition if they haven't got it yet.
People don't often change their mind once they're of certain age.

That's what I mean with 'progress': ability to change and evolve.