Science,civilization and democracy: Values,systems, structures and affinities

It is argued here that mankind is in an age of transition. Professor Prigogine presents a penetrating perspective on the nature of science and technology, observing that science is complex and probabilistic where the notions of irreversibility randomness and bifurcation are profoundly altering hitherto unchallenged concepts. This new reconceptualization of science has implications for the human sciences and for planning—it is leading to new dialogues of man with man, and of man with nature. The leitmotiv of this article is that the future is not given: time is a construction, and this implies ethical responsibilities.