CHRISTOPHER VASEY

The speed of progression of events is not constant over time, as was believed well into the 20th century. Since then, the rate has accelerated in various fields, hence the term ‘acceleration of history’. How is this acceleration taking place? Where does it come from and what does it mean?

A change of pace: In the past, we willingly accepted as fact that the speed of development of events has always remained constant here on earth. Today, however, even the most obtuse sceptic must accept that the accumulation of events over shorter and shorter intervals is unprecedented in the period of recorded history. And it is far from being a passing phenomenon; this acceleration continues on its course today and will even intensify.

This phenomenon has been referred to as the ‘acceleration of history’ in order to emphasise the fact that the time interval between events is becoming increasingly shorter.

This acceleration affects all areas, including nature, humanity, illnesses, science and technology, work and social relationships.

In the past, large scale natural disasters happened over a time frame of many decades. Earthquakes, cyclones, floods, devastating avalanches, landslides, heatwaves, forest fires, cold spells and droughts occurred at different intervals with a significant lapse of time in between. They were talked about for years before a new disaster struck. This rate has changed and today we do not just talk about one catastrophe a year, but many. Longstanding records, which have stood for 50 or even 100 years are being broken almost every year with respect to temperature, rainfall, or lack of it, wind intensity,