Willis Harman

Willis W. Harman
Born(1918-08-16)August 16, 1918
DiedJanuary 30, 1997(1997-01-30) (aged 78)
NationalityAmerican
Alma materUniversity of Washington
Stanford University
ChildrenW. Dean Harman
Scientific career
FieldsElectrical engineering
Sociocultural evolution
InstitutionsStanford University
SRI International
Institute of Noetic Sciences
World Business Academy
Theses
Doctoral advisorKarl Spangenberg
Doctoral studentsJohn B. Thomas
Nils Nilsson
Norman Abramson

Willis W. Harman (August 16, 1918 – January 30, 1997)[1] was an American engineer, futurist, and author associated with the human potential movement. He was convinced that late industrial civilization faced a period of major cultural crisis which called for a profound transformation of human consciousness. Over a career lasting some four decades, he worked to raise public awareness on the subject through his writings and to foster relevant research through the nonprofit research institute SRI International, the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS), and the World Business Academy (WBA). He served as president of IONS for two decades, and he was a cofounder of the WBA. His many books include volumes coauthored with the futurist Howard Rheingold, who put forward similar views, and the mythologist Joseph Campbell.

  1. ^ "Obituary: Willis Harman". The Futurist. 31 (3). World Future Society: 59. May–June 1997. ISSN 0016-3317.