St. Andrews University Future Society

We are a student society in the University of St. Andrews' Student Association whose aims are:

1. To promote an intellectual, spiritual and physical enabling of potential in ways not otherwise offered at St. Andrews University.
2. To connect students and staff with the global Future-orientated reform movement, and to one another so that ideas and information may be shared.
3. To hold an annual multi-disciplinary lecture series on The New Way of Thinking (which is characterised by, but not limited to, a post-Cartesian dynamic systems-based worldview).

Our members can optionally affiliate with the International Futures Forum, a Fife-based Future-orientated consultancy and think-tank.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What are we about?

For the last three centuries, the fundamental worldview of Western civilisation has been that of Cartesianism and with globalisation, has become the dominant worldview of most of the planet’s population. Cartesianism arose during the Renaissance when the old medieval worldview based on Greek philosophy and Christianity was replaced by a mechanistic worldview, whereby the Universe was seen as a large machine comprised of smaller machines, all of which could be fully understood by continually breaking them down into their smaller parts (called reductionism). Similarly, one could logically add together a number of parts and know what the whole would be – examples would include cars, buildings, computers and nuclear reactors.

However, this worldview is coming to an end. The most defining feature of Western civilisation and the primary cause of its ability to culturally & militarily conquer the world is over. In many ways we already know this, we feel the change in the wind. All across the western world social ills are increasing rapidly – depression is becoming epidemic, happiness indicators are falling and everywhere there is a growing sense that something must change.

The New Way of Thinking was born at the end of the 19th century, has grown in fits and starts during the early 20th and has been realised for what it is, the coming paradigm shift, from around the 1970’s. It has emerged spontaneously in almost every subject from physics, through maths and onto management, economics and psychology – even theology. Uniting all its applications is a shift from the parts to the whole, a thorough mathematical & logical rigour, long-term sustainability and an emphasis on integration of mysticism & spirituality with empirical evidence & the scientific method.

2. Sounds like the metaphysical waste of time students usually engage in! What's the point?

The Future Society, like our kindred organisations already working closely with the world's major corporations and governments, is all about introducing the New Way of Thinking to our members and to society at large. Indeed our corporate sponsor, the IFF, is funded by three of Britain's largest multinational corporations and works directly with many more, and the Forum for the Future works directly with all three of the UK's main political parties as well as directly with the government's civil service. Many of the world's most generous philanthropists, such as George Soros, support Future-based reform organisations as does HRH Prince Charles. Future-based reform organisations play a significant role at the NGO level internationally, and have strongly influenced UN activities during the last twenty years.

Unlike other politically influencial movements, ours is one of the few which is represented on both left and right wing politics, at the corporate level as well as local, in both rich and poor and right across the sciences and social sciences. It is predominantly rooted in Western nations, but is extensively present in the richer developing nations as well as northern parts of North America (including Canada). Indeed, the last three Democratic Presidential candidates for US President had Future-based advisors in their core team.

3. Ok, so you have backers! What's in it for me?

The main focus of the society is a multi-disciplinary lecture series called 'Creating The Future' with internationally renowned experts in their field, who explain how they are applying these techniques to their own disciplines. Most lectures concentrate on one specific topic as the expert tends to work in a specialised field, but they tend to return to common themes which weave between them all. All lectures, unless otherwise indicated, are suitable for the average well-educated undergraduate.

We also run a book club in which members can study two selected books per semester and meet up with other members to discuss them. This affords an excellent chance to do some real learning in topics unlikely to be addressed at undergraduate level in Universities for some years yet. It also allows members to meet like-minded others and to interact more closely with our sponsor, the IFF. If mastered, the tools and techniques learned can prove extremely advantageous to your future prosperity, both spiritually and materially.

4. Who runs the society?

The Executive elected for 2006/2007 was:

1. Mr. Niall Douglas (BSc), Tertian MA Economics & Management (President)
2. Ms. Johanna Crossley-Zels, Tertian BSc Zoology (Treasurer)
3. Ms. Megan Bean, Tertian MA English (Secretary)
4. Ms. Valentine Bugeja, Tertian MA Management

Each year around April/May a new Executive is elected by the membership. Any normal and fully paid up member of the society may stand.