Table of Contents
Prelude
Part I: The Past History of Civilization
1. An Overview of History Section I—Historical Turning Points Section II—Cultural Consciousness Section III—Countering Critics 2. The Axial Age Section I—The Mystery of the Axial Age Section II—Ethics, Empire, and Literacy Section III—Problems of Literacy 3. Modernity Section I—The Rise of the West Section II—The West and Modernity Section III—In Defense of the West 4. Post-Civilization Section I—The Ambiguities of Modernity Section II—Catalysts Section III— The Events of the Twentieth Century
Part II: The Present Predicament of Civilization
5. The Forces of Modernity Section I—A Brief Overview Section II—Capitalism Section III—The State Section IV—Science and Technology Section V— Post-Industrial or Information Society 6. Society Section I—Megalopolis Section II—Social Ranking Section III—Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft Section IV—Friendship, Kinship, and Family 7. Culture Section I— A Historical Introduction to Global Culture Section II—Capitalism and Culture Section III—The State and Culture Section IV— Science and Technology and Culture Section V—The Global and the Local 8. Individualism Section I—The Origins of Individualism Section II—Individualism in the West Section III— Individualization and Atomization
Part III: The Future Prospects of Civilization
9. Catastrophes of Nature and Culture Section I—The Uncertainties of Prediction Section II—Jonas and Jonahs Section III—Scenarios of Cultural Disaster 10. The Future as it Might Be Section I—Drifting to Disaster Section II—Restoring Society Section III—Conserving Cultures Section IV—Recovering Individualism
Valedictory Remarks
Endnotes
Index
