What Happened in the 20th Century?

With the six essays contained in this volume, Peter Sloterdijk builds on his monumental Spheres-trilogy which dealt with nothing less than an explanation of the development of human history based on an atmospheric-ecological concept. It allows Sloterdijk to describe the 20th century in an equally radical and surprising new way.

Sloterdijk analyses it as a time of accomplishments: the 20th century is the century of triumphant impatience that is capable of anything; it’s the century of immediate execution in which the martial law of sanctions replaces patience, deferral and hope. This era never knew the Principle of Hope, but only ever a Principle of Now that was comprised of two cooperating items, the principle of impatience and the principle of free-of-charge. These principles become leading motives: from now on, it’s all about working in order to never have to work again. Every endeavour only has a temporary character. One is patient for one last time, so that finally, after the big discovery, one never has to be patient ever again. Europe’s most in-depth dream is that of unemployment originating from the material wealth.

Sloterdijk shows that such a dream can only come true if it is supported by a »universal treasure«: the entire globe and its unrestricted exploitation.