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The provided text is comprised of excerpts from a research report titled “Changing Images of Man,” prepared by the Center for the Study of Social Policy/SRI International and edited by O. W. Markley and Willis W. Harman. The document examines the dominant and emerging images of humankind—or paradigms—and their profound influence on society and social policy. It discusses the perceived inadequacies of the industrial-state paradigm in addressing contemporary issues like resource depletion and social malaise, advocating for an evolutionary-transformationalist image that integrates concepts from systems theory, humanistic psychology, and ancient wisdom traditions. The report analyzes how both science and cultural crises drive these paradigm shifts, suggesting strategies for a non-disruptive transition toward a more adequate, holistic, and ecologically conscious future.

This excerpt comes from “Changing Images of Man,” a research report prepared by the Center for the Study of Social Policy/SRI International and edited by O.W. Markley and Willis W. Harman. The core purpose of the text is to analyze how the prevailing “image of man”—the fundamental assumptions a society holds about human nature, potential, and purpose—shapes social policy and contributes to contemporary crises. Key themes explored include the obsolescence of the current “economic man” image, the influence of scientific paradigms on human self-conception, and the processes of cultural transformation necessary to adopt a more adequate, evolutionary image of humankind. The authors ultimately argue that a non-disruptive transition to a post-industrial society requires promoting a new vision based on an ecological ethic and a self-realization ethic.

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