Last updated: 2/24/01
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Reading Questions for Times'
Harvest
Winter, 2001
2/24/01: Questions regrouped for revised assignment schedule
2/3/01: Reading questions added for A Future Perfect. Also changed Question #1 for In
the Age of the Smart Machine.
Here are the questions that you should have in mind as you read the Times' Harvest
books. For the AGS 3360 books, you will use these questions as the topic for essays,
and you will choose one topic, not all. However, you will write three essays on
The Third Wave, one on one of 1 through 5, one on one of 6 through 12, and the last on one
of 12 through 16. For the AGS 3340 books, these are possible Quiz and Exam questions. That
is, the Quizzes and Exams will be some of these questions, and you may have a choice of
which one(s) to answer. For each question, if I choose it for a Quiz or Exam, it will
appear there verbatim. But the difference is that in AGS 3360 you will choose one out of
all of the questions, while in AGS 3340 you have to be prepared to answer them all,
because you will not know in advance which I will choose (I don't know this in advance
either). Note, however, that the AGS 3340 Quizzes and Exams will be open-book (just like
life!).
Reading Questions for A Future Perfect are not ready yet (that is, I am still
reading this book!).
AGS 3360
For The Third Wave (this is the core book for both courses)
- Essay 1
- Describe how Toffler sees second-wave society as an integrated whole. Describe any
disagreements you have with this vision of second-wave society.
- It seems to be impossible to read Toffler for the first time without, at times,
disagreeing violently and, at other times, feeling as if he must have been standing
alongside you all these years, in order to experience what you thought was unique.
Describe your agreements and disagreements with The Third Wave, so far.
- Assume that we are at some future date and that you are participating fully in the Third
Wave, as Toffler describes it. Describe your home life in detail.
- Are you attracted or repelled by Toffler's vision of the future, or is it some
combination of the two? Be specific. What do you feel you need to do to participate in
those aspects that attract you? How could you control those aspects that repel you?
- If indeed the Second Wave is struggling with but will ultimately yield to the Third
Wave,
- Is the Third Wave evolving out of the Second Wave, OR is the Third Wave coming is some
sense from outside of the Second Wave?
- Do you agree with Toffler that there will be struggle between the two? Why or why not?
Is some other mode of change more likely? Why?
- Essay 2 (combined with Essay 3; choose one topic total from both groups)
- In what ways is the Interdisciplinary Studies Program as a whole, a Second-wave
institution, and in what ways is it Third-wave? Be specific and concrete. How would the
Interdisciplinary Studies Program have to be changed to be fully Third-wave? Which of
these changes are possible today, and which would have to wait for new developments? Do
you think you would prefer the present version, or the fully Third-wave version? (See the
remarks below on the structure of ISP.)
Apply Question 1 to some other area with which you are familiar, such as:
- Your home or family,
- Your job or the organization you work in, or
- Some major area of current events.
- Give some specific examples of what Toffler means by "Blip Culture" in Chapter
13. In Chapter 14 he speaks of a new info-sphere to once more integrate our view of the
world. What does he mean by this? What development(s) would make this possible? Give some
specific examples, perhaps futuristic or imaginative, of how this might be done. Does the
section "The Collapse of Consensus" contradict Chapter 14 or not? This question
may be answered by either (a) an essay in the standard form, or (b) two fictional
passages, one of the present and one of the future, that together deal with the topic as a
whole.
- Assume that we are at some future date and that you are participating fully in the Third
Wave, as Toffler describes it. Describe your home life in detail. (An essay that describes
only some future technologies without dealing with social, personal and other changes,
will receive a low grade for content.)
- Essay 3 (combined with Essay 2; choose one topic total from both groups)
- If indeed the Second Wave is struggling with but will ultimately yield to the Third
Wave,
- Is the Third Wave evolving out of the Second Wave, OR is the Third Wave coming is some
sense from outside of the Second Wave?
- Do you agree with Toffler that there will be struggle between the two? Why or why not?
Is some other mode of change more likely? Why?
- 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?
- 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.
- Describe in detail any use that you are making of the Third Wave model in your own life
or career, aside from this course.
- 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.
For Foundations of Futures Studies.
- Essay 4 (combined with Essay 5; choose one topic total from both groups)
- Describe the concepts of possible, probable and preferable futures.
How many times are these concepts discussed in this book? Why do you think they are
discussed so often?
- As described in this book, how do futurists believe that the future comes about? What
influences do futurists believe shape what actually happens? Feel free to compare or
contrast this view with your own view.
- From what you have seen of this course so far, and looking at the syllabus as an
indication of how the course will go for the balance of the semester, how does this class
fit into the Interdisciplinary Studies Program? If you feel that it fits well, make a
proposal for a second futures course. If you feel that it does not fit well, propose
changes to the course so that it will fit better.
- Essay 5 (combined with Essay 4; choose one topic total from both groups)
- This book states several times that we all must have some idea of the future in order to
act in the present, and that the individual’s idea of the future shapes our actions.
Describe your own idea of the future. How much do you rely on this idea of the future?
Give some concrete examples. How did you acquire your view of the future? Is it fair or
useful to discuss the foundation of your view of the future in epistemological terms, as
is done in this book? Epistemologically, how valid is your idea of the future?
- Humans must act, and must use assumptions about the effects of their actions. And yet,
the assumptions are fallible. What strategies can we use to make our assumptions as
accurate as possible, and to protect ourselves if the assumptions are wrong?
- What should be the goal or goals of a course in Futures Studies in the Interdisciplinary
Studies Program (ISP)? (Bear in mind that ISP is directed towards working adults.) What
are some specific activities that could be used in such a course? Are there any particular
teaching methods that would be more appropriate. (Some traditional teaching methods are:
lecture, reading, discussion, simulation or role-playing, small-group work, exhibition of
slides or movies, library research, laboratory experiments, writing, testing, one-on-one
tutoring, problem-solving, conducting interviews and surveys inside or outside the class,
and modeling behavior.)
For In the Age of the Smart Machine (Essay 6)
1. Describe, in an integrated essay, how the following concepts have changed, are
changing and would change the nature of work, either in your own workplace, or in th
workplaces described by the author:
|
a. Action-centered |
b. Rationalization |
c. Informate |
d. Electronic text |
2. A. Describe the conflict between informating and hierarchical management.
B. What recommendations does the author give for firms desiring the full benefits of
computer technology? What is the basis for these recommendations?
3. A. What are the two principal industries that the author analyzes in this book?
B. Describe the level of automation in each of these industries.
4. Describe the development of office and clerical work as presented in this book.
5. A. What is the Panopticon that the author presents in this book?
B. What is the significance of the Panopticon in the age of automation? For workers? For
middle management?
6. A. What is the nature of work in the age of the smart machine?
B. What are the dangers for workers?
C. What are the opportunities or potential benefits for workers?
AGS 3340
For Brave New World
Brave New World is what Toffler would call a second wave
vision of the future. What aspects of Huxley's vision make it second-wave?
Toffler sees all aspects of society influencing each other, while
Huxley says in the Introduction to Brave New World that he sees science and technology as
the dominant forces leading towards this vision of the future. Which view do you think is
a more accurate description of the forces shaping the society of Brave New World?
Alternatively, if there is neither Toffler's mix nor Huxley's domination of science and
technology, what situation do you see?
Rewrite a portion of Brave New World, or a summary of the
whole novel, assuming that the Third Wave, or perhaps just a portion of it, has taken over
the Second Wave. Your rewriting can be humorous, if you wish.
Which, if any, developments did Huxley correctly foresee, and which,
if any, did he miss? Which of those that he missed would be critical in the development of
the third wave?
Toffler has claimed that in the future, everybody will be a minority.
Is this the case in the society of Brave New World? Describe how today's minorities
(women, blacks, etc.) and tomorrow's (Betas, Epsilon's, etc.) are treated in that society.
What do you think that Huxley's personal feelings on this issue are, or would be today?
This question deals with all of the minorities referred above, not just one of
them. NOTE: In English society of the 1930's, Huxley would probably not have had personal
contact with blacks. Compare his simplistic roles for blacks with his more complex roles
for American Indians.
What is the difference between a racist and an elitist? Which do you
think better describes Huxley, or does neither apply? Be sure to include how you think Brave
New World supports your views. Bear in mind that fictional writing about the future is
often intended, and is so inteneded in this case, to warn about the dangers present in
current social trends. That is, do not simply assume that Huxley's intention is
to put forward what he thinks is an admirable society. His intention may be to make
criticisms of the society of his time. What evidence or hints can you find in the book to
support your view of Huxley's intentions here? Further, be careful in judging people in
earlier times by present standards. The validity of this practice is at least
controversial. That is, while Brave New World would almost certainly be viewed as
racist or elitist, were it written today, Huxley was, relatively speaking, enlightened in
his own time and society. The issue is, how far is it possible for someone to differ from
the average views of his or her time, and espeically, how far is it fair for us to require
her or him to be from those average views? Also, based on the novel, how would being an
elitist or a racist (or whatever else you think describes the author) influence the way
Huxley would think about the Third Wave?
For The Road Ahead
- A. List and describe the forecasted trends in The Road Ahead that could increase
the individuation of personal lives.
B. What trends in The Road Ahead could result in the formation of many separate
groups?
- A. What trends does Gates forsee for education?
B. In what specific ways could these changes affect ISP?
C. In what specific ways could these chages affect this course?
- A. What are the stages that Gates lists in the development of computers?
B. How does Gates see these present trends developing?
C. What new stage does Gates see coming next?
- A. List the computer and technology-based corporations that Gates sees as having made
serious mistakes in the past.
B. What lessons does Gates draw from these failures?
C. What business opportunities does Gates think will develop?
- A. Does Gates feel that the future of society is determined?
* If your answer is basically "yes", what determines the future of society?
* If your answer is basically "no", what forces does Gates feel will influence
the development of society?
B. Does Gates feel that technology is an independent social force?
* If your answer is basically "yes", how does technology manage to stay
independent of the rest of society?
* If your answer is basically "no", how is technology influenced by other
sectors of society?
For A Future Perfect
- How do the authors describe the three groups of those affected by globalization -
losers, big-time winners and small-time winners? How do people get into one or the other
of these groups? Can people get out of these groups?
- Is globalization inevitable? Why or why not? What are the factors driving globalization?
What factors could stop globalization's growth?
- Considering Toffler's six-sphere model of society, in which sphere(s) does globalization
lie? Explain your answer? What role does technology play in globalization?
- What, according to the authors, are the beneficial effects of competition? What are the
beneficial effects of "creative destruction?"
- What, according to the authors, are the foundations or prerequisites upon which a modern
and prosperous economy is built? What role do human rights play?
Times'
Harvest Advanced Seminar (online)