The synthesis imperative

THE SYNTHESIS IMPERATIVE provides a menu which might be presented to college freshmen in an orientation course, but for others already in particular disciplines it is intended as a reminder that no particular discipline can be isolated within firm boundaries. Most particularly it is intended to recall the political economist back to classical economists of the nineteenth century who understood very well the relationship of population to biosphere. Sketches of various disciplines are necessarily brief & specialists in each might pass over these lightly - they are intended for those who have had no opportunity to consider them. The book begins with prehistoric homo sapiens & follows him through Greek recorded history, then through his "social contracts." Following after is a discussion of the biosphere - "life & death from the sun" - & ecology in general emphasizing the overreaching drama & importance of "soil." The last three chapters consider the contemporary condition of the classical economist's land, labor & capital as the necessary instruments of production & standard of living, & philosopher Hegel's warning that when North America shall be fully occupied - as was the Europe of his day - "the burden of the World's History shall reveal itself."Grieve, Margaret B. is the author of 'The synthesis imperative' with ISBN 9780963271600 and ISBN 0963271601.