The sequence of visions



The Two Prehistoric Visions
    (that made us human)

    Scientific - Transformative
        emerges before the appearance of fully modern humans
        dominant c. 110,000 - 8000 BC  (fertility cults)
    Social - Kinship
        emerges along with modern humans, c. 200,000 - 50,000 BC
        dominant c. 25,000 BC - 2800 BC  (tribes and totemic clans)


The Three Ancient Visions
    (that created civilization)

    Inner - Spirits/Animism
        emerges c. 80,000 - 7000 BC  (nature spirits, shamans)
        dominant c. 6000 BC - 850 BC  (polytheism, formal priesthoods)
    Scientific - Cosmic Order
        emerges c. 20,000 - 2500 BC  (observation of the heavens)
        dominant c. 2000 BC - 400 AD  (advanced archeo-astronomy)
    Social - Aristocracy
        emerges c. 5000 - 700's BC  (kings, nobles, and peasants)
        dominant c. 500 BC - 1100 AD  (empires)


The Three Medieval Visions
    (in which civilization went for a moral upgrade)

    Inner - Soul/Salvation
        emerges c. 1800 BC - 400's AD  (monotheism/monism)
        dominant c. 650 - 1500  (powerful world-religions)
    Scientific - Emanation
        emerges c. 500 BC - 1100's AD  (Greek philosophy)
        dominant c. 1200's - 1730's  (Scholasticism)
    Social - Hierarchy
        emerges c. 700's - 1500  (feudalism)
        dominant c. 1600 - 1840's  (early nation-states)


The Three Modern Visions
    (whereby Western civilization took over control of the planet)

    Inner - Reason
        emerges 1200's - 1740's
        dominant 1762-1915
    Scientific - Scientific Materialism
        intimated in Middle Ages, emerges 1600's - 1850's
        dominant 1866-1964
    Social - Democracy
        intimated in 1600's, emerges 1700's-1910's
        dominant 1933-2009


The Three Post-Modern Visions
    (during which the human community seeks higher-level unity)

    Inner - Chaos
        intimated in 1700's, emerges 1860's-1960's
        dominant 1976-
    Scientific - Holism
        intimated in 1860's, emerges 1930's-2010's
    Social - Multiculturalism
        intimated in 1930's, emerges 1970's-





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Background courtesy of Eos Development