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International Studies in Phenomenology and Philosophy

Book | Chapter

193252

Jaspers' Achsenzeit hypothesis

a critical reappraisal

Michael Zank

pp. 189-202

Abstract

Jaspers idea of a grand shift in the spiritual paradigm of unrelated civilizations, located rather generously somewhere around the middle of the first millennium BC, inspired only few historians, but a closer reading reveals that Jaspers was always more concerned with what we can learn for the situation of our own time from what is generally true about our perception of antiquity. Jaspers made this argument twice, namely, in 1931 and again in 1949. The post-modern situation, globalization, and the question of how we understand human existence under these conditions are still of obvious relevance. This essay also brings Jaspers' idea of an axial age to bear on an ongoing study of the millennial history of Jerusalem.

Publication details

Published in:

Wautischer Helmut, Olson Alan, Walters Gregory J. (2012) Philosophical faith and the future of humanity. Dordrecht, Springer.

Pages: 189-202

DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-2223-1_17

Full citation:

Zank Michael (2012) „Jaspers' Achsenzeit hypothesis: a critical reappraisal“, In: H. Wautischer, A. Olson & G. J. Walters (eds.), Philosophical faith and the future of humanity, Dordrecht, Springer, 189–202.