Just defining what a "progressively civilized person" is would make a a most interesting thesis.

That's the question really, isn't it - what you're after in a 'civilisation'. If it's a good standard of living (different from, but not necessarily exclusive of, a high income), then I'm not sure that literacy makes any difference - although of course most members of this board would be forlorn without their written words, I imagine!

There's another question: would it be possible to be 'wordcrazy' () in a purely oral society?