ABSTRACT

Public concerns about environment, fuel shortages, pollution, crime, and other social disorders are, as viewed by the ecologist, symptoms of the basic developmental problem that has plagued society on a micro or local scale in the past, but which now must be coped with on a macro scale, that is, on the state, national, and global levels. Simply stated, the problem is how to make an orderly transition from pioneer rapid-growth civilizations to mature civilizations, as is dictated by the natural limitations of the earth, and the rapidly rising expectations of even larger numbers of people. In terms of the principles of cybernetics (the science of controls), the problem is how to move from the positive transient state, where positive feedback promotes growth, to the steady-state or to at least a low-growth state, where negative feedback promotes balanced inputs and outputs, and guards against excesses that could destroy the system.