The philosophy of history the concept of "axial time" appeared thanks thinker Karl Jaspers.Analyzing the progress of human society, wondering over the appearance and death of ancient civilizations, known historiosophy tried to determine what gave rise to modern civilization and the mentality of people.As a result, he came to the idea that there was a period (which lasted about six years), which may be called the axis of world history.
Jaspers believed that this phase lasted from the eighth to the second century BC.Why did not the first centuries of our era served as a starting point, because the system itself is the chronology accepted in the Western world, is based on the date of the Nativity of Christ?Jaspers claims that the axial time - is a universal category, which can not be linked to any religion, even the world.The dogma of faith should not be a dominant criterion for the empirical comprehension of the history of mankind.But the creation of things and the "end of time", as described in the Book of Genesis and the Apocalypse, even a Christian believer separates, within the meaning of the secular history of society.
Before axial time has come, mankind has known two key cut in its history.The first - is the emergence of articulate speech, making tools, the ability to use fire.The second section - a V- III millennium BC, when the favorable climate and in the beds of large rivers there are ancient civilizations of Egypt, Babylonia, Assyria, China and India.At this time, there are written, the state created the mythological religious tracts, there is trade, and hence the collision and interpenetration of cultures.The ancient kingdom prepared the ground for the axis of world history.
700-s BC sets self "axial time".It is especially evident in the IV century before Christ.This section of Jaspers calls "spiritual basic principle of humanity."Almost simultaneously in China live and work Lao Tzu, Confucius and other great thinkers, that forms the basis of Confucianism, Taoism, Legalism and moizma.In India proclaims his sermon Buddha Benares, written Upanishads.Zarathustra teaches the struggle between good and evil in Iran.In Palestine, this era was marked by the advent of the prophet Isaiah, and Elijah Ierimii.In Greece, there are all the philosophical trends - materialism and skepticism to a highly scientific sophistry.Then lived Socrates, Aristotle and Plato, Heraclitus and Parmenides.
This axial time, according to Jaspers, - the most important in the history of society.Just then there was a sharp turn, which created modern man, his attitude, individualism and rationality.In remote from each other parts, on different ends of Eurasia, but almost at the same time, people recognize the value of the individual and the individual's own helplessness in the face of a soulless environment.The desire for transcendental, to the fact that "in the world", influenced the mentality of the people more than the invention of the plow and the water mill.
Axial Age has created the foundations of all existing world religions."The time of mercy" in Christianity took place two centuries later, but the morale of the people was ready to accept the teachings of the Sermon.Buddha lived in the fourth century BC, but the wide spread of Buddhism as happened a few centuries later.According to Jaspers, the modern era is now develop and refine those ideas whose foundations were laid during that crucial period.Logic, methods of knowing the world, philosophies and attitude of the man was wonderfully in tune with our time.
