"More than Planners, Less than Utopians:" 1960s Futurism and Post-Industrial Theory
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Ohio University / OhioLINK
2017
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ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-ohiou14935874871750572021-08-03T07:02:19Z "More than Planners, Less than Utopians:" 1960s Futurism and Post-Industrial Theory Verschoor, Jasper American History American Studies European History History futurism post-industrial society Daniel Bell social indicators forecasting Bertrand de Jouvenel Herman Kahn planning prediction This dissertation studies the ideas of a group of thinkers described by Time Magazine in 1966 as “Futurists.” The American sociologist Daniel Bell, the French political philosopher Bertrand de Jouvenel, and the physicist Herman Kahn argued that the future could not be predicted but that forecasting certain structural changes in society could help avoid social problems and lead to better planning. In order to engage in such forecasting Jouvenel founded Futuribles, an international group that facilitated discussion about the future of advanced industrial societies. Bell chaired a Commission on the year 2000 that aimed to anticipate social problems for policy makers. The dissertation also focuses on work done by Kahn and others at the RAND Corporation and the Hudson Institute.The origin of 1960s futurism is traced to debates held under the auspices of the Congress for Cultural Freedom, especially ideas about the “end of ideology.” The supposed exhaustion of left and right-wing political ideologies produced a desire for new theories of social change. Bell offered his theory of post-industrial society, a future shaped by theoretical knowledge and information in which computers played an important role. The importance of new intellectual techniques made possible by the computer could also be used to anticipate and plan for the future, or so the futurists hoped. A focus on social forecasting and social planning aligned in important ways with the goals of President Johnson’s Great Society. Bell chaired a Presidential Commission on automation, and later a panel on social indicators. The later aimed to produce social statistics that could rival economic indicators, and ultimately lead to comprehensive planning for social goals.The futurism of the 1960s fell far short of its ambitions, and failed to leave a lasting mark on society. This dissertation examines why this was the case and studies the tensions and problems inherent in the futurist efforts. Most importantly the futurists struggled to articulate how planning could be incorporated in a pluralist democracy, and how it could be commensurate with free market capitalism. The futurists wavered between normative and value-free understanding of their efforts, weakening their case for future-oriented governance. Ultimately this dissertation holds that futurist efforts are necessary but that the argument for futurism has to be political. Demanding a long-term perspective and planning for the future has to start in the political arena and cannot be value-neutral. 2017-09-20 English text Ohio University / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1493587487175057 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1493587487175057 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws. |
| collection |
NDLTD |
| language |
English |
| sources |
NDLTD |
| topic |
American History American Studies European History History futurism post-industrial society Daniel Bell social indicators forecasting Bertrand de Jouvenel Herman Kahn planning prediction |
| spellingShingle |
American History American Studies European History History futurism post-industrial society Daniel Bell social indicators forecasting Bertrand de Jouvenel Herman Kahn planning prediction Verschoor, Jasper "More than Planners, Less than Utopians:" 1960s Futurism and Post-Industrial Theory |
| author |
Verschoor, Jasper |
| author_facet |
Verschoor, Jasper |
| author_sort |
Verschoor, Jasper |
| title |
"More than Planners, Less than Utopians:" 1960s Futurism and Post-Industrial Theory |
| title_short |
"More than Planners, Less than Utopians:" 1960s Futurism and Post-Industrial Theory |
| title_full |
"More than Planners, Less than Utopians:" 1960s Futurism and Post-Industrial Theory |
| title_fullStr |
"More than Planners, Less than Utopians:" 1960s Futurism and Post-Industrial Theory |
| title_full_unstemmed |
"More than Planners, Less than Utopians:" 1960s Futurism and Post-Industrial Theory |
| title_sort |
"more than planners, less than utopians:" 1960s futurism and post-industrial theory |
| publisher |
Ohio University / OhioLINK |
| publishDate |
2017 |
| url |
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1493587487175057 |
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AT verschoorjasper morethanplannerslessthanutopians1960sfuturismandpostindustrialtheory |
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