What is this “Western” civilization which is our own? What are the characteristics that define it vis-à-vis others? Are these characteristics proper to its own nature, or are they also found elsewhere?
Philippe Nemo attempts to answer these questions. To him, the “West” is the sum of five essential characteristics, not necessarily proper to it each by themselves, but uniquely combined and working together in what would eventually become Western civilization.
What is essential in Nemo’s theory is the fact that civilizations develop in an immanent frame –immanent here taken in the sense that what is important is not so much outside influences and ideas, but rather an internal dynamic proper to each civilization.
Presented here in French. The book is now translated in English. A presentation and review is also available in English.