Abstract
For humanity to steer the future, four things must be determined. Humanity first must evaluate its current situation, and that of its world. It must determine where it wants to go, what kind of a society it wants to create, and what resources it shall have available to it. It must determine how to get there, or what desirable state it can attain. And it must decide who will do the steering. If its situation is determined to be urgent, then prompt and large scale action may be required for its survival. Starting with institutions of learning, society may need to be mobilized. The nation's ruling oligarchy and vested interests must be converted and involved, as they will otherwise oppose change, even that necessary for society's survival. Various other steps are outlined. Nations, and even just institutions, must be prepared to initiate action on their own, and lead by example. While we argue for urgency, there may instead be grounds for complacency. On the other hand, since we as elites are isolated from the worst aspects of humanity's situation, that situation may be worse than we appreciate.
Charles Gregory St Pierre