The idea to make a multidisciplinary timeline poster originated in a similar personal initiative in 1995, that was restricted to the subject of philosophy. Its surprising success suggested the plausibility to expand the already wide domain of philosophy to other disciplines. Pretty soon this turned into an actual project that gradually assumed huge proportions. My inspiration stems in the all-round scholarship of the Faculty of Literature and Philosophy of the University of Ghent, esp. in the moral sciences department, which is immersed by the multidisciplinary influence of one of its founders, the moral philosopher and logician Leo Apostel (1925-1995).

A four year enterprise like this, is thankfully not done on one's own. As from 1999, a number of people have been involved in this undertaking, of whom I have had a lot of practical support. In the first place I would like to thank my parents. On account of the difficult genesis and the necessary delay of publication, their temporary material support has been of capital importance in a for me critical period. Steve De Schutter supported this project in general. He has been very meritorious for his realism and strong involvement concerning many aspects of the project. His moral and material support have been of great importance to me. I recognize Tommy Blommaert, Sven Van Uytfanghe and Annick Maes for their technical support, esp. during the problematic phase in which we met many months of backlog, caused by countless computer crashes and font problems.

A number of people were less permanently involved in the project, but definitely deserve as much recognition. Particularly, I thank professor Etienne Vermeersch. I am honoured that he, considering his overloaded intellectual engagement, still would take the time and effort to critically consider a large part of the content. I am also indebted to several other professors for their supportive and critical follow up. No matter how meticulously the supervisors have worked, it is evident that I as conceiver and author of this publication carry the full responsibility for any mistakes. Trees Gilles and Leon De Vel I recognize for their advice and for addressing their useful contacts, Marcel Ulrich, Sven Van Uytfanghe (Ziepe) and Wouter Vanden Hove for their technical support with the construction of my website. I am intimately grateful to my dear sister Pegg for her ever supportive optimism, Caroline De Mulder for her unending empathy and whims. Jef Verbeeck, Els Geudens, Luc Nietvelt, Johan Maertens, Bert Vloemans, Kathleen Vervaet, Hannelore Vermoere, Heidi Bergez, Nicolaus DeBecker, Wouter Vanden Hove, Christel Stalpaert, Etienne Vermeersch, Johan Braeckman en esp. Gustaaf Cornelis have also supported me enormously with their friendship and trust. They have always been of great motivating influence. Ultimately, I specifically thank the people who ordered the poster in presales for their patience that was necessary for me to do justice to the content of this publication. In a sense they were my only feedback, for a timeline of this size and detail had never been produced, and I could not estimate whether there would be sufficient public interest. I hope they feel it was worth waiting for.

To Hugo Van den Enden (1939), professor in moral sciences, ideologies and bio-ethics at the University of Ghent. A broad-minded intellectual, who as a teacher is indelibly printed in the memory of many a student. May the multidisciplinary content of this timeline symbolize his knowledge and his open world view.

Tom Schoepen