Time’s Harvest, Fall 1997

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Essay 3 covers The Third Wave.

1. Toffler emphasizes that there will be a struggle between Second-wave and Third-wave forces. Describe in detail how this struggle is occurring at your workplace.

2. In each of Toffler's "-spheres" (e.g. techno-sphere), describe the forces leading towards the Third wave. Given all of these forces acting together, what do you feel that Toffler's reaction to the popular saying that "technology is outrunning morality" would be?

3. What, if any, trends do you see that support Toffler’s projections for new political forms? Feel free to refer to any outside experience or reading here. Toffler claims that it will be necessary to make radical changes in the U.S. Consitution. Do you agree about the necessity? How likely do you think such changes are? Would a failure to make such changes doom other aspects of the Third Wave model? This question can be answered, if you wish, by a fictional scenario describing the changeover, or attempted changeover, to such a new system, and the new system itself.

4. Describe in detail any use that you are making of the Third Wave model in your own life or career, aside from this course.

5. Toffler claims that we can influence the development of the Third Wave, and that the model can restore structue and meaning to our lives. Describe in detail how he feels that this can occur. Give your own evaluation of his ideas here.