Brain, the mind, and the future
Within psychology, brain research, and the sciences generally there has been a greater emphasis on the investigation of phenomena in terms of present and past than in terms of the future. This restriction in time frame has led not only to a fragmentation of theory and research in all the sciences but also, in a time of great social, political, and economic change, to a failure by social science to provide the kind of guidance through improved prediction that might help ease our passage through this global turbulence. To remedy this situation much more work is needed in the relevant areas of brain research, in a closely wedded psychology of consciousness and the mind as a whole, and eventually in artificial intelligence and systems analysis as a means of testing and advancing theory. This article examines the basis for such an advance in the work of Luria, Pribram, and others with the frontal brain; Sperry, Bogen, and others with brain hemispheric differences; and Von Neumann and others in artificial intelligence and systems analysis. It examines the nature of the prediction task philosophically and pyschologically, states a model for brain functioning and forecasting suggested by a synthesis of prior research, and reports the supporting evidence for this model from philosophy, psychology, cybernetics, and recent experimental and field studies. It closes with a consideration of needs for continuing research and the implications of advancement in this area for science and society. 56 references.
- Research Organization:
- Institute for Future Forecasting, Carmel, CA
- OSTI ID:
- 5364877
- Journal Information:
- Technol. Forecasting Social Change; (United States), Journal Name: Technol. Forecasting Social Change; (United States) Vol. 3; ISSN TFSCB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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