Humanism and futures research.

The origins of the futures movement are reviewed. The observation is presented that the reductionistic pattern of thinking which has been the central focus of scientific thinking is contrary to the counter-reductionistic view that characterizes holistic thinking. Humanistic futurists must have a total awareness of and commitment to the concept that the welfare of humankind must be an integral part of all futures planning. Their training should stress interrelationships and mutually influencing factors that dominate individual human functioning, group behavior, and technologic forces. The scientific era would appear to be giving way slowly to a "postscientific" era. This new breakthrough is a feature of the evolving postindustrial-cybercultural society.