The Human Organization of Time: Temporal Realities and Experience

Allen C. Bluedorn

Published by Stanford University Press 2002

The Human Organization of Time

Temporal Realities and Experience

Allen C. Bluedorn

https://doi.org/10.1515/9781503619319

Overview
Contents

About this book

“What is time then?” asked St. Augustine some 1,600 years ago. It was a question he could not answer, and over the centuries that followed, it was one that few scholars dared to address. Yet there are answers to this question of the true nature of time, and this book discusses several of them as a means of approaching its central concern: that humanity creates a variety of times and these different times affect the experiences of life—as times vary, so does life. Not so much focusing on watches, clocks, and calendars (though these are covered), the author argues that time is a fundamental component of the technological development of humanity. The book addresses the relationships between time and life on three fundamental premises: (1) all times are not the same, (2) all times are social constructions, and (3) the times humanity creates direct the way humanity lives. The book addresses the major ways in which times differ (polychronicity, speed and punctuality, and orientation to past, present and future), how these differences are coordinated (entrainment), and how these differences affect human life, including such extreme effects that produce the best and worst of times. Building on these differences and the effects they produce, the author examines the possibility of humanity consciously creating more good times than bad. Throughout the analysis, a vital connection between time and life gradually emerges, namely, the impact of time on the meaning of life itself. Materials from several disciplines inform the discussions, notably theory and research from the social and behavioral sciences, in particular the organization sciences. The author uses historical examples extensively throughout the book, but also presents new results that derive from original data he has collected. The book will be valuable not only to those involved in the management and organization sciences, but also to sociologists and psychologists, who have largely avoided coming to terms with one of the central issues of human life—time.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Preface Publicly Available Download PDF	ix
1 All Times Are Not the Same Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
2 Temporal Realities Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	21
3 Polychronicity Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	48
4 Seldom Early, Never Late Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	83
5 Eternal Horizons Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	111
6 Convergence Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	146
7 The Best of Times and the Worst of Times Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	181
8 Carpe Diem Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	213
9 NewTimes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	244
Appendix The Temporal Depth Index and Its Development Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	265
Notes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	273
References Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	301
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	339

Language: English
Publisher: Stanford University Press
Audience: College/higher education;
Pages
- Main content: 384

eBook

Published: July 16, 2002
ISBN: 9781503619319