Revolution or Renaissance

Front matter

MAKING THE TRANSITION FROM AN

ECONOMIC AGE TO A CULTURAL AGE

D. Paul Schafer

Part I- THE AGE OF ECONOMICS

1. Origins of the Economic Age 9 The Wealth of Nations 10 The Industrial Revolution 23 Religion and the Rise of Capitalism 27 Genesis of the World System 31 2. Evolution of the Economic Age 37 Classical Economics 39 Marxian Economics 51 Neoclassical Economics 58 Keynesian Economics 72 Development Economics 78 Contemporary Economics 85 3. Mechanics of the Economic Age 93 The Economic Worldview 93 The Economic Model of Development 98 Dominant Forces in Society 102 The Modern World System 113 4. Assessment of the Economic Age 119 Strengths of the Economic Age 120 Shortcomings of the Economic Age 124

A Balance Sheet on the Economic Age 130

Part II- THE AGE OF CULTURE

5. Signs of a Cultural Age 139 The Holistic Transformation 140 The Environmental Movement 143 The Encounter with Human Needs 146 The Quest for Quality of Life 149 The Struggle for Equality 151 The Necessity of Identity 153 The Focus on Creativity 155 Culture as a Crucial Force 156 6. Foundations for a Cultural Age 159 The Nature of Culture 159 The Character of Cultures 166 The Cultural Interpretation of History 179 The Great Cultural Tradition 184 7. Functioning of a Cultural Age 191 A Cultural Worldview 191 Development of Culture and Cultures 193 A Cultural Model of Development 195 Key Cultural Concerns 200 A Cultural World System 207 8. Priorities for a Cultural Age 215 A New Environmental Reality 215 Fulfilling Human Needs 218 New Meanings of Wealth 221 A New Corporate Ideology 223 A New Political System 226 A Cultural Approach to Citizenship 230 A Breakthrough in Education 232 Liveable and Sustainable Cities 234 A United World 237 9. Flourishing of a Cultural Age 241 A Cultural Renaissance 242 The Cultural Heritage of Humankind 245 World Culture and World Cultures 248 A Global Federation of World Cultures 255 Epilogue 259