An Age<br > in Transition<br > chapter 1<br > HROUGHOUT the last decade， apocalyptic visions<br > have abounded in response to the increasing frag-<br >mentation of knowledge， dehumanization of the individ-<br >ual， and generalized disruption that has occurred<br >lhroughout the world. Despite this apparent chaos of rapid<br >social， ecological， and individual change， there is another<br >strongly enunciated perspective that views the upheaval as<br >symptomatic of a profound evolutionary transformation of<br >human consciousness. Dismal prophecies of our future so-<br >ciety as totally dominated by group orientation with little<br >or no freedom for individual expression are based upon the<br >assumption that interdependency creates less need for indi-<br >vidual initiative and creativity rather than for more. Popu-<br >lation analysts forecast that a population glut might create<br >further stress upon limited living and working space. This<br >