modern superstitions of all kinds have influenced the western world in recent
decades. It has become an industry. Alternative offers on the philosophical
market have mushroomed in the wake of the dwindling support for
Christianity.”
“What sort of offers?”
“The list is so long I wouldn’t dare to begin. And anyway it’s not easy to
describe one’s own age. But why don’t we take a stroll through town? There’s
something I’d like you to see.”
“I haven’t got much time. I hope you haven’t forgotten the garden party
tomorrow?”
“Of course not. That’s when something wonderful is going to happen.
We just have to round off Hilde’s philosophy course first. The major hasn’t
thought beyond that, you see. So he loses some of his mastery over us.”
Once again he lifted the Coke bottle, which was now empty, and banged
it down on the table.
They walked out into the street where people were hurrying by like
energetic moles in a molehill. Sophie wondered what Alberto wanted to show
her.
They walked past a big store that sold everything in communication
technology, from televisions, VCRs, and satellite dishes to mobile phones,
computers, and fax machines.
Alberto pointed to the window display and said:
“There you have the twentieth century, Sophie. In the Renaissance the
world began to explode, so to speak. Beginning with the great voyages of
discovery, Europeans started to travel all over the world. Today it’s the
opposite. We could call it an explosion in reverse.”
“In what sense?”
“In the sense that the world is becoming drawn together into one great
communications network. Not so long ago philosophers had to travel for days
by horse and carriage in order to investigate the world around them and meet
other philosophers. Today we can sit anywhere at all on this planet and
access the whole of human experience on a computer screen.”
“It’s a fantastic thought. And a little scary.”
“The question is whether history is coming to an end— or whether on the
contrary we are on the threshold of a completely new age. We are no longer
simply citizens of a city—or of a particular country. We live in a planetary
civilization.”
“That’s true.”
“Technological developments, especially in the field of communications,
have possibly been more dramatic in the last thirty to forty years than in the
whole of history put together. And still we have probably only witnessed the
beginning . . .”
“Was this what you wanted me to see?”
“No, it’s on the other side of the church over there.”
As they were turning to leave, a picture of some UN soldiers flashed
onto a TV screen.
“Look!” said Sophie.
The camera zoomed in on one of the UN soldiers. He had a black beard
almost identical to Alberto’s. Suddenly he held up a piece of card on which
was written: “Back soon, Hilde!” He waved and was gone.