Had a prof once who claimed that if St. Francis were alive he would have composed a hymn to the bulldozer. Point: progress and change is not the problem; it is, rather what we bring to it. Literature that promotes diversity is like science. Civilization builds upon the past but goes beyond- supposedly. "To Kill a Mockingbird" should teach civility in diversity along WITH Aristotle.
"Western thought" was built upon "eastern", so the "development of western thought" is and should be broadening rather than narrowing. 
More teaching of logic, not less; more exploration of civility as it is the core of "civil-iz-ation", ethics, morality, and yes, politics. More art, awe, science, scientific method, more "ego-te".