by Jan Lee Martin
Introduction
Will social historians of the future track the paths of memes from generation through generation, as today’s scientists track genes? If they do, there’s one amazing 20th century conference that’s bound to attract their attention. It had a star-studded cast. Initiated by historian Pitirim Sorokin and chaired by psychologist Abraham Maslow, the 1957 conference brought together professors of physics and philosophy, psychology and mathematics, anthropology and theology – even a Zen master. Its purpose was to determine whether a science of human values was possible. Its lasting impact may be immeasurable.(continue…)