Abstract
I call the attention of all readers to the “Statement of Focus” of the World Futures Review. This statement was embedded in the first editorial I wrote when I became editor of the journal, and it now will appear in every subsequent issue so that writers and readers of the journal will understand the focus of WFR in comparison with that of other journals in the field.
Please share this with people who you feel could contribute to the aims of the journal. And use it yourself to guide your submissions to us.
This issue contains three significant contributions.
Futures studies is necessarily a very big tent, incorporating people who are working in and for organizations who simply wish to stay ahead of economic or military competitors by applying appropriate methods of foresight. Others cast a very broad net, dealing with issues that have occupied philosophers, theologians, and scientists for eons. And there are many folks in between. Thomas Lombardo deals with a very big picture here—the purposeful evolutionary role of human consciousness and wisdom in envisioning and creating a “good future.”
For some people, all these concepts are problematic. For others, they are foundational. For all, they should be challenging and inspiring—and encouragement to read a book that Lombardo has recently finished in which he elaborates on the points he touches on for us here. Future Consciousness: The Path to Purposeful Evolution, is to be published this spring, 2017, through John Hunt Publishing and Changemakers Books.
Graeme Taylor also tackles a huge problem, perhaps the most challenging new dilemma facing humanity now—global climate change. He, of course, is not alone. Thousands of scholars and activists worldwide are addressing it, and many serious proposals have been made, and some officially supported, to deal with it. At the same time, there are many people who deny the existence, urgency, or role of humans in creating climate change. In spite of proclamations and declarations, most current policies and actions continue to exacerbate the causes unconsciously while a few positively seek to increase the alleged causes, unconcerned about the consequences. Forces for continued economic growth regardless of the future costs still prevail.
Graeme Taylor’s main contribution to all this is to show again how urgent the issue is; how narrow and fragmented most responses are; that we need to use futures-oriented, holistic, systems-based theories and methods to understand and to address the challenges; and that humans are by no means powerless to help create a better future, if they will diligently apply those theories and methods.
This issue concludes with a book review by Richard Slaughter of Simple Living through History, by Samuel Alexander and Amanda McLeod. It is a discussion of twenty-six people who have devoted their lives to “living simply so others might simply live.” They can be considered alternative responses to the challenges Dr. Taylor discusses and examples of wisdom-based good futures that Dr. Lombardo advocates.
It also provides an opportunity for me to encourage you to write and submit to WFR reviews of books you feel are relevant to the focus of this journal.