The second axial age
fulfilling the human destiny
pp. 399-408
in: Helmut Wautischer, Alan Olson, Gregory J. Walters (eds), Philosophical faith and the future of humanity, Berlin, Springer, 2012Abstract
The notion of Axial Age is the starting point for Jaspers' concept for a future world philosophy, and his vision of a united world based upon it. He argues that the first period (800–200 BC) referred to the common source of humankind, while the second one—marked with the development of modern technological civilisation—refers to the common goal, which is the union of the earth. The author poses the question, whether the future world philosophy is able to realize this great task, which manifested itself in the dawn of mankind: to bring about such union. Furthermore, which philosophical assumptions of this new thinking may help fulfill human destiny, and which render Jaspers' lofty project merely a beautiful utopia.