ABSTRACT
Coping with the future is about the ability to anticipate, prepare for, and handle disruptive changes. This chapter argues that there is a big difference between coping with a future within an existing order, compared with a future facing systemic change. It also argues that in any period of systemic change one has to choose direction, and some choices turn out to be better than others. Most people would like to see changes that represent progress but not changes that create fear or conflict or reduce welfare and peaceful social interaction. Social science is concerned with studying the society we live in, and it is part of this society and reality. Science in general, and social science especially, is in a double position when it is seen as part of social development. The nature of Gestalts is different in social science compared to natural science. The chapter also presents an overview of this book.
