The Spirit of the Times and Cultural Epochs as Reference Systems Along with Their Transformation of the Ideal Level of Human Development – A Historical Journey Into the Past to Learn for the Future

Abstract

The culture and spirit of the time, including its ideological and religious background, shape our inner mindset, our understanding of social normalcy and of the sense and objectives for how we interact with ourselves, as well as social cohabitation.

This extremely concise overview aims to put the apparent normality of our current understanding into perspective. Values, worldviews and concepts of man are all relevant to psychotherapy, particularly if and as long as we do not reflect them.

However, comparisons and overviews do not account for the impression that we are currently living in a time that represents the peak of development. With this in mind, we shall take a step-by-step look back in time, perhaps also in spirals, in order to finally secure a future in which the development of human potential is more adequately challenged and promoted.