Time, Globalization and the Nascent Identity of Mankind

In: Time & society, Band 9, Heft 2-3, S. 293-302

Abstract

A person's identity is defined by the ways in which he or she is similar to and different from other persons in body, conduct, and thought. The identity of a tribe, nation or civilization is also defined by the ways in which it is similar to and is different from other social groups of its kind. A peculiar difficulty arises when the identity sought is that of a globalized mankind because there are no other mankinds with respect to which ours could establish its hallmarks of similarities and differences. A global society is a one-and-only system of its kind, as unique as is the object we call the universe or the idea of God, in monotheistic religions. To get around the difficulties posed by this uniqueness, the paper notes that all identities must include references to intentional conduct and hence to time. It then takes advantage of this necessary relationship and discusses some representative issues unique to a globalized mankind.