The Order of the Ages
World History in the Light of a Universal Cosmogony
The laws which relate the modern world to earlier ages, and the position of our own era in a universal time-cycle, are explained in this book in a way which reveals the essential nature of time. It is shown that time imposes patterns of its own on the order of events, which reveal themselves by numerical regularities. By means of a Platonic view of creation, which connects temporal with non-temporal realities, we see how man’s inner life holds the balance between these two kinds of objective reality.
Traditional cosmological doctrines form the background to the ideas presented, which include insights into the power of universal time to realize evil, and how this can be overcome by those who understand it. Both non-Christian and Early Christian sources are also quoted in this connection, to illustrate the universality of the cyclic idea of time. Connections are made between metaphysical ideas of time and the scientific idea of entropy and its varied applications. And the cyclic idea of time is then used to resolve the apparent conflict between the vast tracts of time which have elapsed before Homo Sapiens and the relatively recent appearance of revealed religion.
Finally, the last two thousand years are analyzed numerically in terms of traditional cosmology, making it possible to calculate our present position in a universal era, together with the time within which this era will end, leading to a review of the possibility that this ending may coincide with theLast Times, and the implications that this would have for current values and religious beliefs.
Table of Contents
Conflicting Ideas of Time—Prehistorical to Posthistorical—The Principle of Plenitude—From Form to Matter—The Rhythms of Time—Cosmic Descent in Western Tradition—'The Great World Decays in the Little'—The Kali-Yuga—Rising Entropy and Evolution—The Submergence of Distinctions—'The Eternity of the World'—The Arguments of Proclus—The Arguments of Philoponus—An Ontology of Time—Temporal Curvature and Contraction—The Structure of Cycles—Cyclic Periods in History—The Time of the End—Liberation Through Knowledge
Praise
How, when, and why did the world begin? And how will it end? Or is there no ending or beginning? What is infinity, and are such questions merely about illusions? What part does mind play in creation? Are we and the universe programed toward a certain end? All that can honestly be given in response to such questions is an introduction to that constant and recurrent world-view which this book uniquely provides.
John Michell, author of The Dimensions of Paradise
Time, like beauty, is one of the foremost mysteries of human experience. Here, Dr Bolton has taken a deliberate and courageous effort to confront the nature of time. It is like a breath of fresh air to see such care taken to present what can authentically be called the traditional view. 'Recurrence' and 'Never Again' are the poles of this mystery so well and ably covered in this book. Any work that presents the views of such as Plato so well is inevitably going to be of cardinal value—but Dr Bolton also goes into other wisdom traditions. This may not be easy reading, but what a relief from the mechanically tedious choice between 'Big Bang' and 'Steady State', and whatever else the material mechanists have dreamed up as our only diet for consideration. It must be essential reading for the serious seeker.
Keith Critchlow, author of Time Stands Still
Christian Platonism has a long and distinguished history, but few orthodox Catholics have tried to make a serious contribution to this tradition in recent times. Robert Bolton's extraordinary book is just such a contribution. Influenced by René Guénon's The Reign of Quantity and the Signs of the Times,and respectful of Tradition, this is a work of great creativity as well as metaphysical intelligence.
Stratford Caldecott, Chesterton Review