Abt Associates Town Halls are regularly scheduled seminars on topics relevant to the Abt Associates staff and our project work. When possible we publish, here on our Web site, articles about recent seminars.
Daniel Bell, retired member of Abt Associates' Board of Directors, began a 5-part series of Town Hall Thursdays presentations on the forces shaping American life. As discussed in the book Daniel Bell, by Malcolm Waters, "Daniel Bell is perhaps the most famous sociologist of his generation ... the prophet of the emergence of a new society, the post-industrial society, and ... one of the leading conservative critics of contemporary culture." Dan's books, The End of Ideology, The Coming of the Post-Industrial Society, and The Cultural Contradictions of Capitalism, have helped shape America's understanding of itself.
The Technology of Modern Times
The first session, presented on March 7th, was entitled "The Age of Technology: 1800-2000 — An Overview." Comments Group Vice President Joan Mullen, "Only Dan Bell, one of the biggest thinkers of the twentieth century, could cover two centuries over lunch and leave us all satisfied." His talk addressed how technology of "modern times" — mechanical, electrical, information, and intellectual technology — differs from the past, linking these developments to the creation of wealth, past and present.
The March 21st presentation, "Theoretical and Practical Knowledge," looked at the changing nature of invention and innovation, from Darby and Edison to Bohr and Bloch. The March 28th presentation was entitled "Post-Industrial Society." At that talk, Dan examined the new class structure of society and asked the question "Where is the working class?"
Series Concludes in April
The series concluded in April with a discussion on April 11th of "The Social Sciences: Past and Present," and on April 18th, a talk on "Social Policy: Equity and Equality." At the April 11th meeting, Dan discussed where the social sciences are now and how they arrived at this point. The April 18th presentation ranged far and wide, discussing everything from Rousseau and natural inequality, through de Tocqueville and social equality, to fairness and affirmative action.
new society, the post-industrial society, and ... one of the leading conservative critics of contemporary culture." Dan's books, The End of Ideology, The Coming of the Post-Industrial Society, and The Cultural Contradictions of Capitalism, have helped shape America's understanding of itself.