Utopia Or Oblivion: The Prospects for HumanityBuckminster Fuller (1895a "1983) was an architect, engineer, geometrician, cartographer, philosopher, futurist, inventor of the famous geodesic dome, and one of the most brilliant thinkers of his time. For more than five decades, he set forth his comprehensive perspective on the worlda (TM)s problems in numerous essays, which offer an illuminating insight into the intellectual universe of this renaissance man. These texts remain surprisingly topical even today, decades after their initial publication. While Fuller wrote the works in the 1960a (TM)s and 1970a (TM)s, they could not be more timely: like desperately needed time-capsules of wisdom for the critical moment he foresaw, and in which we find ourselves. Long out of print, they are now being published again, together with commentary by Jaime Snyder, the grandson of Buckminster Fuller. Designed for a new generation of readers, Snyder prepared these editions with supplementary material providing background on the texts, factual updates, and interpretation of his visionary ideas. Initially published in 1969, and one of Fullera (TM)s most popular works, Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth is a brilliant synthesis of his world view. In this very accessible volume, Fuller investigates the great challenges facing humanity, and the principles for avoiding extinction and a oeexercising our option to make ita . How will humanity survive? How does automation influence individualization? How can we utilize our resources more effectively to realize our potential to end poverty in this generation? He questions the concept of specialization, calls for a design revolution of innovation, and offers advice on how to guide a oespaceship eartha toward a sustainable future. And it Came to Pass a " Not to Stay brings together Buckminster Fullera (TM)s lyrical and philosophical best, including seven a oeessaysa in a form he called his a oeventilated prosea, and as always addressing the current global crisis and his predictions for the future. These essays, including a oeHow Little I Knowa, a oeWhat I am Trying to Doa oe, a oeSoft Revolutiona, and a oeEthicsa, put the task of ushering in a new era of humanity in the context of a oealways starting with the universea . In rare form, Fuller elegantly weaves the personal, the playful, the simple, and the profound. Utopia or Oblivion is a provocative blueprint for the future. This comprehensive volume is composed of essays derived from the lectures he gave all over the world during the 1960a (TM)s. Fullera (TM)s thesis is that humanity a " for the first time in its history a " has the opportunity to create a world where the needs of 100% of humanity are met. This is Fuller in his prime, relaying his urgent message for earthians critical moment and presenting pioneering solutions which reflect his commitment to the potential of innovative design to create technology that does a oemore with lessa and thereby improves human lives . . . a oeThis is what man tends to call utopia. Ita (TM)s a fairly small word, but inadequate to describe the extraordinary new freedom of man in a new relationship to universe - the alternative of which is oblivion.a Buckminster Fuller. |
Contents
Introduction | 7 |
A Citizen of the Twentyfirst Century Looks Back | 11 |
The Music of the New Life | 23 |
Copyright | |
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