If man is to have a future which is desirable, it requires a drastic and prompt shift in the values and institutions of his society. The industrial-state paradigm of the last few hundred years was useful for that time, but for the future it has several crucial failings. These include failures: 1) to provide each person with an opportunity to contribute to the society and to be affirmed by it in return; 2) to foster more equitable distributions of power, wealth, and justice; 3) to foster socially responsible management of the development and application of technology; 4) to provide goals which will enlist the deepest loyalties of the nation's citizens; and 5) to develop and maintain the habitability of the planet. A "new age" paradigm now emerging is characterized by a metaphysic asserting transcendent man and the goal of a person-centered society. A fundamental contradiction exists between these aims and the industrial-state paradigm. The new aims will lead to fundamental transformations in science, education, the economic system, and institutions. The wisdom of present decision-making would be to test the results of decisions against the eventuality that the future will take this path. (JK)