The escalation of change and the acceleration of the «rhythms of history» as a threat to human existence

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the phenomenon of acceleration of «rhythms of history» and escalation of change in the movement of the world society. The main stages of acceleration, which took place in the history of humanity, are defined and comprehensively revealed. It is shown that the rapidly accelerating «run of history», rapid change of settled rhythms of life turns to psychological and nervous overload, diseases of many people. The initial formative factors have been identified, the root causes that guided the movement of society along a dangerous, possibly even catastrophic path. We have substantiated the idea that a society of limitless progress, a society of uncontrolled innovations, continuously changing each other is a society of infinite risk, a society of risky situations. Hence the urgent need to create an innovation culture that blocks the expansion of uncontrolled innovations, various kinds of «subversive» projects and destructive technologies. Today, the problem of slowing the rapid «run of history», bringing the pace of socio-economic development in accordance with the capabilities of the human body, its biology and psyche, as well as with the environment is truly fateful. Here it is important to take into account the fact that society and people are not always able to withstand the expansion of change – they prefer stability, resilience, balance, homeostasis, and that therefore it is necessary to strive for the achievement of a balance between variability and stability, between dynamic and static, to find a balance between these opposite principles in the movement of society. Emphasis is placed on the need to create comprehensive humanitarian expertise aimed at forming an algorithm and models of safe innovative development, developing effective measures, focused on minimising possible risks and threats in the life of society.