The Evolution of the Future
1991,
144 pages, ISBN: 0-275-93897-2
Published by Praeger Publishers
Written by sociologist Frank W. Elwell Chairman of the
Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work at Murray State University.
Rather than relying on simple trend analysis, the book critiques futurism
from the standpoint of cultural materialism, a contemporary theory rooted
in social ecology/evolutionary theory. The book includes:
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A revision of Cultural Materialism a systems theory that
attempts to account for the origin, maintenance, and change of society.
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The social evolutionary process supported by the latest research
and supplemented with case studies and illustrations.
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The role of elites discussing the nature and extent of their
power in determining future social evolution.
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The politics of the future examining the clash between the
technological and ecological worldviews.
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Environmental limits clarifying the empirical and theoretical
underpinnings to the debate.
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A critique of postindustrialists including the popular utopian
works of Toeffler, Naisbitt and other optimists.
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The new totalitarianism an update on the dystopia as envisioned
by Huxley, Heilbroner, and others.
Related sites:
Classical Theorists
In the Classical Tradition
Excerpt: Totalitarian Nightmares
Frank W. Elwell is Professor of Sociology and the founding Dean of
Liberal Arts at Rogers State University. He teaches social problems,
sociological theory, medical sociology, and cultural ecology and is the
author of The Evolution of the Future (Praeger,
1991), Industrializing America (Praeger, 1999),
A Commentary on Malthus' 1798 Essay as Social Theory (Mellen, 2001),
The Classical Tradition: Malthus, Marx, Weber & Durkheim, and
Macrosociology: Four Modern Theorists.
.
Elwell's
Homepage
©Frank Elwell Send comments to felwell at
rsu.edu