Numerous groups of people are requesting information about Technocracy, and in many places, study groups have been formed for the purpose of studying Technocracy and its underlying principles. The following outline lessons are designed to serve as a guide for study groups which are now organized and ready to proceed.
Technocracy is dealing with social phenomena in the widest sense of the word; this includes not only actions of human beings, but also everything which directly or indirectly affects their actions.
Consequently, the studies of Technocracy embrace practically the whole field of science and industry. Biology, climate, natural resources, and industrial equipment all enter into the social picture, and no one can expect to have any understanding of our present social problems without having at least a panoramic view of the basic relations of these essential elements of the picture. All things on the earth are composed of matter and therefore require a knowledge of chemistry. These things move, and in so doing involve energy. An understanding of these relationships requires a knowledge of physics. Industrial equipment, as well as the substances of which living organisms are composed, are derived from the earth. This requires a knowledge of geology and earth processes. Man is himself an organism and derives his food from other organisms. Hence, a knowledge of biology is necessitated.
The purpose of this Study Course is not to give any person a comprehensive knowledge of science and technology but rather to present an outline of the essential elements of these various fields, as they pertain to the social problem, in a unified picture. Neither are these lessons a textbook. They are, instead, a guide to study. The materials to be studied are, to a great extent, already very well written in various standard and authentic references and texts in the fields of science.
At the end of each lesson, there is cited a series of references. If one is sincerely interested in learning what Technocracy is about, we do not know any other way that this can be achieved than by mastering the basic material contained in these references or its equivalent from other sources.
The scope of materials in this course of studies is so broad that i t is very doubtful that any group will have among its members a single person competent to discuss all topics. It is quite probable, however, that there may be individual members who are engineers, physicians, and people with training in other technical branches. The procedure, therefore, recommended for conducting the course is that of the seminar method—each member of the group is a student, and none is the teacher. Under this method, there should be a permanent presiding officer, but discussion leaders should be chosen from among the group, with topics assigned on the basis of making the best uses of the talent afforded by the group. Thus, for the matter and energy discussions, use should be made of members with training in physics, chemistry, or engineering. For the biological discussions, use should be made of physicians or people having training in biology. For the mineral resources, people with a knowledge of geology should be the preferred leaders.
The above suggestions are offered only as guides. If special talent in the various fields should not be available, then any suitable leader can direct the discussion, using the outline and references as sources of information. The important thing is to get a comprehensive view of the problem as a whole rather than of its parts as unrelated scraps of knowledge.
