historical-break
The idea that the current era represents a fundamental and unprecedented rupture in human history, comparable to the shift from barbarism to civilization.
1 chapter across 1 book
Future Shock (1970)Alvin Toffler
Chapter 1 of Future Shock introduces the concept of 'future shock,' a psychological condition caused by the rapid acceleration of societal change that overwhelms individuals and societies alike. Toffler compares this phenomenon to culture shock but emphasizes its greater severity due to the constant and irreversible nature of change within one's own society. The chapter also situates this rapid change within a historical context, arguing that the current era represents a profound break from the past, comparable to the invention of agriculture or the industrial revolution, marking the emergence of a super-industrial society.