The Foundations of Futures Studies: Human Science for a New Era - Hardcover

Bell, Wendell

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1560002816 ISBN 13: 9781560002819

Publisher: Routledge, 1997

Synopsis

Futures studies is a new field of inquiry involving systematic and explicit thinking about alternative futures. Wendell Bell's two-volume work Foundations of Futures Studies is widely acknowledged as the fundamental work on the subject. In Volume 2, Bell goes beyond possible and probable futures to the study of preferable futures. He shows that concern with ethics, morality, and human values follows directly from the futurist purposes of discovering or inventing, examining, and proposing desirable futures. He examines moral judgments as an inescapable aspect of all decision-making and conscious action, even in the everyday lives of ordinary people.

Now available in paperback with a new preface from the author, Volume 2 of Foundations of Futures Studies moves beyond cultural relativism to critical evaluation. Bell compares depictions of the good society by utopian writers, describes objective methods of moral judgment, assesses religion and law as sources of what is morally right, documents the existence of universal human values, and shows that if human beings are to thrive in the global society of the future, some human values must be changed.

About this title

Review

"While the tone is sedate, Bell's ideas often strike sparks. Bell concludes futurologists must (and sociologists should) discuss how society ought to be, because our survival depends on our soon restoring the good' to scientific inquiry into the human condition."

-Arthur B. Shostak, "Contemporary Sociology"

"This book is a masterpiece! It makes an extraordinary contribution to studies of the future."

-Allen Tough, University of Toronto

"A truly remarkable book, reflecting a life-long study of the future and scholarship of the highest ordervisionary--in the best sense of the term."

-Amitai Etzioni, George Washington University

"This is an important book... Its major concepts such as values, morality, objectivity, and the 'good society' are clearly an essential part of any thoughtful discussion of altruism or solidarity... Bell's book is especially useful in placing debates about altruism/solidarity in the broader context of universal values and global needs... Perhaps the biggest impact of Bell's work on the field of altruism/solidarity relates to a shift from merely describing and explaining 'what is' to a consideration of 'what ought to be'... Bell's book could serve as a foundation for a paradigm shift in how the sociology of altruism/solidarity is practiced... Bell's book should be required reading for anyone interested in the possibility of a better future."

- Mathew T. Lee, Altruism & Social Solidarity

"Bell is primarily concerned with the "ethical foundations" or methods for deciding what things, events, arrangements, actions, and consequences are better than others in future studies... A must read for future studies specialists and their graduate students."

--D. V. Waller, Choice

"While the tone is sedate, Bell's ideas often strike sparks. Bell concludes futurologists must (and sociologists should) discuss how society ought to be, because our survival depends on our soon restoring the good' to scientific inquiry into the human condition."

-Arthur B. Shostak, "Contemporary Sociology"

"This book is a masterpiece! It makes an extraordinary contribution to studies of the future."

-Allen Tough, University of Toronto

"A truly remarkable book, reflecting a life-long study of the future and scholarship of the highest order-visionary--in the best sense of the term."

-Amitai Etzioni, George Washington University

"Values, Objectivity, and the Good Society will provide a basis for the study of the complex interplay between values and visions of the future for years to come. Its horizon spans a dozen disciplines; it is unique, courageous, and scholarly. Professor Bell tackles the toughest question that futurists, politicians, and ordinary people can ask: 'What is a good future?'"

--Theodore J. Gordon, founder and former president, The Futures Group, Inc.

"Bell is primarily concerned with the 'ethical foundations' or methods for deciding what things, events, arrangements, actions, and consequences are better than others in future studies... A must read for future studies specialists and their graduate students."

--D. V. Waller, Choice

"While the tone is sedate, Bell's ideas often strike sparks.... Bell concludes futurologists must (and sociologists should) discuss how society ought to be, because our survival depends on our soon restoring the 'good' to scientific inquiry into the human condition."

-Arthur B. Shostak, Contemporary Sociology

"This book is a masterpiece! It makes an extraordinary contribution to studies of the future."

-Allen Tough, University of Toronto

"A truly remarkable book, reflecting a life-long study of the future and scholarship of the highest order...visionary--in the best sense of the term."

-Amitai Etzioni, George Washington University

"Values, Objectivity, and the Good Society will provide a basis for the study of the complex interplay between values and visions of the future for years to come. Its horizon spans a dozen disciplines; it is unique, courageous, and scholarly. Professor Bell tackles the toughest question that futurists, politicians, and ordinary people can ask: 'What is a good future?'"

--Theodore J. Gordon, founder and former president, The Futures Group, Inc.

"While the tone is sedate, Bell's ideas often strike sparks.... Bell concludes futurologists must (and sociologists should) discuss how society ought to be, because our survival depends on our soon restoring the 'good' to scientific inquiry into the human condition."

-Arthur B. Shostak, Contemporary Sociology

"This book is a masterpiece! It makes an extraordinary contribution to studies of the future."

-Allen Tough, University of Toronto

"A truly remarkable book, reflecting a life-long study of the future and scholarship of the highest order...visionary--in the best sense of the term."

-Amitai Etzioni, George Washington University

"Bell is primarily concerned with the 'ethical foundations' or methods for deciding what things, events, arrangements, actions, and consequences are better than others in future studies... A must read for future studies specialists and their graduate students."

--D. V. Waller, Choice

"This is an important book... Its major concepts such as values, morality, objectivity, and the 'good society' are clearly an essential part of any thoughtful discussion of altruism or solidarity... Bell's book is especially useful in placing debates about altruism/solidarity in the broader context of universal values and global needs... Perhaps the biggest impact of Bell's work on the field of altruism/solidarity relates to a shift from merely describing and explaining 'what is' to a consideration of 'what ought to be'... Bell's book could serve as a foundation for a paradigm shift in how the sociology of altruism/solidarity is practiced... Bell's book should be required reading for anyone interested in the possibility of a better future."

- Mathew T. Lee, Altruism & Social Solidarity

"Values, Objectivity, and the Good Society will provide a basis for the study of the complex interplay between values and visions of the future for years to come. Its horizon spans a dozen disciplines; it is unique, courageous, and scholarly. Professor Bell tackles the toughest question that futurists, politicians, and ordinary people can ask: 'What is a good future?'"

--Theodore J. Gordon, founder and former president, The Futures Group, Inc.

"While the tone is sedate, Bell's ideas often strike sparks.... Bell concludes futurologists must (and sociologists should) discuss how society ought to be, because our survival depends on our soon restoring the 'good' to scientific inquiry into the human condition."

-Arthur B. Shostak, Contemporary Sociology

"This book is a masterpiece! It makes an extraordinary contribution to studies of the future."

-Allen Tough, University of Toronto

"A truly remarkable book, reflecting a life-long study of the future and scholarship of the highest order...visionary--in the best sense of the term."

-Amitai Etzioni, George Washington University

"Bell is primarily concerned with the 'ethical foundations' or methods for deciding what things, events, arrangements, actions, and consequences are better than others in future studies... A must read for future studies specialists and their graduate students."

--D. V. Waller, Choice

"This is an important book... Its major concepts such as values, morality, objectivity, and the 'good society' are clearly an essential part of any thoughtful discussion of altruism or solidarity... Bell's book is especially useful in placing debates about altruism/solidarity in the broader context of universal values and global needs... Perhaps the biggest impact of Bell's work on the field of altruism/solidarity relates to a shift from merely describing and explaining 'what is' to a consideration of 'what ought to be'... Bell's book could serve as a foundation for a paradigm shift in how the sociology of altruism/solidarity is practiced... Bell's book should be required reading for anyone interested in the possibility of a better future."

- Mathew T. Lee, Altruism & Social Solidarity

"Values, Objectivity, and the Good Society will provide a basis for the study of the complex interplay between values and visions of the future for years to come. Its horizon spans a dozen disciplines; it is unique, courageous, and scholarly. Professor Bell tackles the toughest question that futurists, politicians, and ordinary people can ask: 'What is a good future?'"

--Theodore J. Gordon, founder and former president, The Futures Group, Inc.

-While the tone is sedate, Bell's ideas often strike sparks.... Bell concludes futurologists must (and sociologists should) discuss how society ought to be, because our survival depends on our soon restoring the 'good' to scientific inquiry into the human condition.-

-Arthur B. Shostak, Contemporary Sociology

-This book is a masterpiece! It makes an extraordinary contribution to studies of the future.-

-Allen Tough, University of Toronto

-A truly remarkable book, reflecting a life-long study of the future and scholarship of the highest order...visionary--in the best sense of the term.-

-Amitai Etzioni, George Washington University

-Bell is primarily concerned with the 'ethical foundations' or methods for deciding what things, events, arrangements, actions, and consequences are better than others in future studies... A must read for future studies specialists and their graduate students.-

--D. V. Waller, Choice

-This is an important book... Its major concepts such as values, morality, objectivity, and the 'good society' are clearly an essential part of any thoughtful discussion of altruism or solidarity... Bell's book is especially useful in placing debates about altruism/solidarity in the broader context of universal values and global needs... Perhaps the biggest impact of Bell's work on the field of altruism/solidarity relates to a shift from merely describing and explaining 'what is' to a consideration of 'what ought to be'... Bell's book could serve as a foundation for a paradigm shift in how the sociology of altruism/solidarity is practiced... Bell's book should be required reading for anyone interested in the possibility of a better future.-

- Mathew T. Lee, Altruism & Social Solidarity

-Values, Objectivity, and the Good Society will provide a basis for the study of the complex interplay between values and visions of the future for years to come. Its horizon spans a dozen disciplines; it is unique, courageous, and scholarly. Professor Bell tackles the toughest question that futurists, politicians, and ordinary people can ask: 'What is a good future?'-

--Theodore J. Gordon, founder and former president, The Futures Group, Inc.

Synopsis

An application of futures studies methodology and theory directing readers' attentions to the force of ethics and morality in determining future realities. Bell (sociology, Yale U.) argues that moral analysis should become a part of all the human sciences, critically evaluating the "good society" of utopian writers, demonstrating objective methods

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 1560002816
• ISBN 13: 9781560002819
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 392