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Towards a culture of non-simultaneity?
[journal article]
Abstract "There are three different concepts and analytical
aspects of social time in contemporary western societies that are
referred to in this article: (1) the different tempos of social processes
and (2) the varying time horizons of 'socially expected durations'
(Merton, 1986). It is argued that due to s... view more
"There are three different concepts and analytical
aspects of social time in contemporary western societies that are
referred to in this article: (1) the different tempos of social processes
and (2) the varying time horizons of 'socially expected durations'
(Merton, 1986). It is argued that due to spatial, technological and
socio-economic changes a third, more fundamental evolution of
temporality is emerging: (3) an increasing simultaneity of events in
our 'world at reach' (Schutz and Luckmann, 1983). The different
tempos and time-scopes being causes and effects of this phenomenal
simultaneity. An increase in simultaneity necessarily provokes an
increase in non-simultaneity. 'Classical' mechanisms of temporal
ordering of non-simultaneous events are sequencing and linear processing.
It is claimed, that these mechanisms, typical of industrial
modernity, are complemented by efforts and exigencies of coping
with complexity in a simultaneous mode. It is assumed that the
abilities of actors and social systems of parallel and simultaneous
processing are enhanced but after all remain limited. Therefore, a
growing realm of non-simultaneity remains open to meaningful
interpretation. This is what significance an emerging culture of nonsimultaneity
has." (author's abstract)... view less
Keywords
social process; social system; time
Classification
General Sociology, Basic Research, General Concepts and History of Sociology, Sociological Theories
Free Keywords
Tempo; non-simultaneity; short-termism; social time; synchronization; tempo
Document language
English
Publication Year
2004
Page/Pages
p. 5-26
Journal
Time & Society, 13 (2004) 1
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/0961463X04040740
Status
Postprint; reviewed
Licence
Deposit Licence - No Redistribution, No Modifications
Data providerThis metadata entry was indexed by the Special Subject Collection Social Sciences, USB Cologne