The federal government has sponsored research that has produced a

"The federal government has sponsored research that has produced a tomato that is perfect in every respect, except that you can't eat it. We should make every effort to make sure this disease, often referred to as 'progress', doesn't spread." With these sharp words, Andy Rooney highlights a profound truth about the nature of progress and the unintended consequences of human invention. Rooney speaks not just about the absurdity of a perfect tomato that cannot be eaten, but about the broader danger of pursuing perfection at the cost of what truly matters—functionality and authenticity. The essence of his message is a cautionary tale against blind progress, urging us to consider the value of things not merely by their surface advancements, but by their true purpose.

The ancient Greeks, too, had much to say about the nature of progress and the pursuit of perfection. Aristotle, in his teachings, emphasized that true growth is not found in the excessive pursuit of change, but in the balance between what is and what could be. In his Nicomachean Ethics, he argued that the highest form of human flourishing comes not from the exaggerated transformation of the world around us, but from the harmonious development of both character and virtue. The Greeks understood that progress should never come at the expense of the essential values that define the purpose of life. In this sense, Rooney’s critique of progress—specifically progress that disregards the fundamental purpose of the thing being improved—resonates deeply with the wisdom of the ancients.

Rooney’s quote also touches on the ancient concept of hubris—the dangerous pride that often accompanies human innovation. Just as Icarus sought to fly too close to the sun, only to fall to his doom, so too can mankind’s ambition for perfection lead to folly. Hubris is the overreaching of human ability, the belief that we can perfect nature, bend it to our will, without fully considering the long-term consequences. The tomato, perfect in form but useless in function, is a striking symbol of this hubris—a creation that disregards its purpose and ignores the natural order in pursuit of an unattainable ideal. The lesson here is clear: progress that ignores the fundamental purpose of a thing is not true progress, but a misguided pursuit.

Throughout history, there have been many such moments where progress was celebrated without understanding its broader implications. Consider the Industrial Revolution, a period of profound technological advancement. While it brought about enormous changes in industry and the economy, it also resulted in pollution, the displacement of workers, and the erosion of the environment. The early inventors of the steam engine or the factory system were heralded as visionaries, but the true consequences of their inventions were only fully understood much later. This phenomenon is an example of the kind of progress that Andy Rooney warns against—an unchecked, unconsidered advance that sacrifices the well-being of the whole for the sake of improvement in one narrow aspect.

Similarly, the story of the atomic bomb stands as a tragic example of how human ambition for advancement can lead to catastrophic consequences. J. Robert Oppenheimer, one of the key figures behind the development of the bomb, famously quoted the Bhagavad Gita upon witnessing its first successful test: "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds." This was the tragic recognition that scientific progress, when unchecked or driven by narrow desires, can bring destruction rather than the hoped-for benefit. The atomic bomb was a marvel of human ingenuity, but it was a perfected weapon—useless for the common good, a symbol of progress that had lost sight of its true purpose.

Rooney’s reflection urges us to question the meaning of progress in our own time. True progress, as the ancients understood, is not measured by how much we can change or perfect the world around us, but by how those changes align with the fundamental purpose of life and the natural order. Progress must enhance the quality of life, not diminish it. The lesson is a powerful one: we must ensure that the pursuit of advancement does not blind us to the value of the things we already possess, or to the harm that can come from the relentless pursuit of perfection.

As we reflect on Rooney’s words, let us consider our own approach to progress. Are we pursuing improvements that enhance the purpose of our work and our lives, or are we driven by a shallow desire for perfection at any cost? Let us strive for balance—a progress that respects the integrity of nature, that values function over form, and that seeks wisdom in every advance. In this way, we will be able to avoid the pitfalls of hubris, ensuring that the changes we make to the world are meaningful, sustainable, and truly beneficial for all. Let us remember the tomato—a perfect creation, useless for the purpose it was meant to serve—and strive to create progress that is both beautiful and purposeful.