User:Mauk Pieper/sandbox/Humanity's Second Shock of Existence

The terminology ‘Humanity’s Second Shock’, or ‘Second Shock of Existence’is developed by Mauk Pieper in his book ‘Humanity’s Second Shock and Your Unique Self’The concept is related to ‘Humanity’s First Shock’, the historical moment when humans became consciously aware of time, space and context, and therefore also of possible threads and death in the future. This was a moment of psychological shock because human consciousness, on top of its awareness of acute danger in the present moment, now started to include every possible danger in the future as well. Pieper points out that Humanity’s Second Shock refers to humanity’s present collective realization that all survival strategies that we developed after the First Shock, are now failing. Whatever we do, the breakdown or death of our species has become a real possibility. Moreover, this Second Existential Shock triggers our collective memory of that First Existential Shock, even if unconsciously. ‘Humanity’s Second Shock and Your Unique Self’is, chapter 3 – 4. (Venwoude Press, Lage Vuursche, The Netherlands 2014.)