Chronos: The West Confronts Time

Chronos, a French historian, explores the relationship between past, present, and future, tracing the development of Western temporalities from Western antiquity to the Anthropocene. He examines how the ancient Greeks understood time, the fashioning of a Christian time in the early centuries of the Catholic Church, and the rise of modern time, presided over by the notion of relentless progress. The book emphasizes the deep uncertainties the world now faces as we reckon with the arrival and significance of the Anthropocene age, which has challenged all existing temporal constructions. It brings depth and erudition to debates over the nature of the era and offers insight into the experience of historical time.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 30 January 2024
Publisher: Columbia University Press

Time, an elusive and omnipresent force, has captivated and perplexed human endeavors throughout history. For the early Christians and the twenty-first-century world alike, the question of how past and future intertwine with the present remains a central concern. In his groundbreaking work, Chronos, renowned French historian François Hartog delves into the intricate tapestry of Western temporalities, exploring the orders of time and their divisions into epochs.

Hartog begins his exploration by tracing the origins of Western temporalities, delving into the ancient Greek concept of time and its influence on the development of Christianity. He examines how the early centuries of the Catholic Church shaped a distinct Christian time, marked by its own rhythms and calendars. Christianity's dominance over time, once pervasive across Europe and beyond, began to wane as modern time, driven by the notion of relentless progress, emerged.

Hartog emphasizes the profound uncertainties the world now faces as we grapple with the arrival and significance of the Anthropocene age. Humanity has attained the ability to alter the climate, causing changes that once unfolded across geological epochs within mere life spans. In this perilous new era, which has upended all existing temporal constructions, the question arises: What will become of the old ways of understanding time?

Chronos weaves together reflections on intellectual history and historiography with critiques of contemporary presentism and apocalypticism. It offers a rich and nuanced understanding of the nature of the era we inhabit and provides insightful insights into the experience of historical time. Through his meticulous research and thoughtful analysis, Hartog challenges our assumptions about time and invites us to reevaluate our relationship with the passing of time.

In conclusion, Chronos is a seminal work that delves into the complex and multifaceted relationship between human beings and time. François Hartog's profound insights and erudition shed light on the historical, cultural, and philosophical dimensions of time, offering a valuable contribution to our understanding of the present and the challenges we face in the future.

Weight: 482g
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231203135