For the past two decades I have been conversing with academicians about the possibility and consequences of a fundamental revision of our world-view. This type of issue should be of primary concern to philosophers, but they have yet to rise to the challenge. Like all the other academic specialists they are very reluctant to venture beyond traditionally defined professional territories. The result is that our universities have become the most conservative of cultural institutions. Beyond the very narrowly prescribed limits, there is increasingly an intellectual gridlock.

At the same time, computer scientists are unleashing a force of technological change that is already dwarfing that which was created by physicists in the century now ending. We do not have to proceed recklessly down a blind alley. We can on rare occasions stop to consider the larger issues involved here. There is an obligation to exercise our human capacity to wonder what all of this might mean. Should we not be searching for a vision of the future that can bring personal meaning to otherwise overwhelming developments?

I bring a new vision to the academic arena for your testing. I submit that this vision is the leading candidate to transcend the intellectual gridlock in which we find ourselves. I further submit that our adoption of the most appropriate vision may well determine the fate of humanity.

These are strong words. By what possible authority can I presume to utter such words? That remains to be determined, but I have derived considerable encouragement over several years from a curious and very unofficial 'liaison' with our government. If anyone would care to question that 'liaison' the UMCP public affairs office would be the place to check first.

Dan Smith

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rev. 2/7/98