This text examines the concept of actuality and its profound significance within Western civilization and culture. The author contrasts the modern emphasis on the immediate moment and action with archaic, mythical thinking, which valued only the eternal repetition of primordial beginnings. The essay argues that Western activism is deeply rooted in a specific understanding of time—specifically historical time—derived from Hebrew thought rather than Greek philosophy. While Greek thought often pursued an eternal now (aeternum nunc) that essentially negated the reality of temporal change, the Hebrew tradition introduced a focus on the unique, unrepeatable hic et nunc. This perspective allows for the emergence of the new and a fundamental orientation toward the future. Through an etymological exploration of terms like actuality and act, or reality and deed, the text illustrates the intrinsic connection between existence and human action. Ultimately, Western culture is characterized by its drive to realize something that does not yet exist, positioning human action as a transformative force that shapes history against the backdrop of the past. This forward-looking orientation defines the unique dynamic of European progress.