ABSTRACT
Critical theory is concerned with understanding the "inside"—the thought, reasoning and emotion that "makes" history. What follows discusses the distinction between problem solving and critical theory—the synchronic and diachronic perspectives; the nature of time and of how people of different civilizations have understood time in historical change; distinguishing eras of creativity and decline; dominance and subordination among civilizations; and the problem of world order in the present world. The general aim of problem solving is to make social and power relationships work smoothly by dealing effectively with particular sources of trouble. Thinking in the time dimension—the diachronic—leads to consider whether society, civilization, or culture is in a period of a creative movement, or whether it seems to be stalled or in a phase of decline. The channels of international organization and global governance allow for a continuing dialogue of civilizations through which the creativity or decline of different civilizations becomes apparent and issues of dominance and subordination may be confronted.
