In addition to the texts and this special book, we will use a hypertext system accessible through internet connections that discusses futures material. To remind you, the overall objective of this course is to develop abilities to understand the issues and to critically interpret the diverse viewpoints regarding possible futures for the United States and world. Some of these shifts are due to electronic technology, biological system understanding, world economic and political order, and recognition of the human impact on the long term environment. This course approaches the future with an attitude that one can develop some ability to perceive possible changes, and to be ready in advance to these changes. The examples selected for this book focus on environment and education, as those are major subjects for the course.
Additional examples are from business and other fields to expand the discussion.
This book is for an overview and is not intended to be in-depth discussions of futures related topics. Futures considerations cross all disciplines, and this overview is to give you a framework in which to function. A great deal more material is available through the class web page and the specific readings in the syllabus.