Willis Harman

Infobox academic
name = Dr. Willis Harman

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image_size = 150px
birth_date = 1918
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field = Social Science
work_institutions = Stanford University
University of Florida
alma_mater = University of Washington
Stanford University
doctoral_advisor =
doctoral_students =
known_for =
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Willis Harman (1918-1997) was a social scientist, academic, futurist, writer, and visionary. Publicly, he is most remembered as a social scientist with SRI International, for being President of the Institute of Noetic Sciences in California, and for his work in raising consciousness within the international business community.

" A re-spiritualization of society is taking place, but one more experiential and non-institutionalized, less fundamentalist and sacerdotal, than most of the historically familiar forms of religion. Such a change in the basic picture of reality must inevitably be accompanied by a long-term shift in value emphases and priorities. As a result all institutions can be expected to go through major changes, including particularly the industrial, economic and financial ones." - Willis Harman

Life and Work

As a U.S. Navy officer and a newlywed, Harman was stationed on the USS Maryland at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked on December 7, 1941. His ship was shielded from torpedoes by the USS Oklahoma and received little damage.

Harman earned a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Washington and an M.S. in Physics and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University. He taught for several years at the University of Florida before joining the Stanford faculty in 1952. He was a Fulbright lecturer on statistical communication theory at the Royal Technical University.

For 16 years Harmon was a Senior Social Scientist at SRI International. He initiated a futures research nprogram, exploring the national and global future. In this capacity he worked on long-term strategic planning and policy analysis for an assortment of corporations, government agencies, and international organizations. Dr. Harman was also emeritus professor of Engineering-Economic Systems at Stanford University and a member of the Board of Regents of the University of California. In his later years, he became President of the Institute of Noetic Sciences in California ("noetic" means "of the mind"). The Institute is a nonprofit research and educational organization founded in 1973 by U.S. astronaut Edgar Mitchell. Its purpose is to expand knowledge of the nature and potentials of the mind, and apply that knowledge to the advancement of health and well-being for humankind and the planet.

Dr. Harman authored numerous texts and papers in various aspects of electrical and systems engineering, futures research, social policy and analysis, and the current societal transition. He inspired the International Spirit at Work Awards http://www.spiritatwork.org/awards/willisharman/2006isaw.htm which are given each year to companies that demonstrate the values he advocated. Since they were inaugurated in 2002, several companies each year are honored with the award in an annual event. Dr. Harman's commitment to raising consciousness in business was nowhere more evident than in his being the founding visionary of the [http://www.worldbusiness.org World Business Academy] , serving on its board of directors until his illness in late 1996.

Dr. Harman died January 30, 1997, survived by his wife of fifty-plus years, Charlene, daughters Mary, Susan, Billie and son Dean, plus nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Shortly after his death, Dr. Harman was honored by the World Future Society for his lifetime contribution to future studies and a group of business people in Brazil established the Willis Harman House in São Paulo as a place for reflection, information and inspiration for business people who want to contribute to global transformation.

Dr. Harman is author or co-author of a number of books, including: "New Metaphysical Foundations of Modern Science" (1994), "Creative Work" (1990), "Global Mind Change" (1988), "Paths to Peace" (1987), "Higher Creativity" (1984), "Changing Images of Man" (1982), and "An Incomplete Guide to the Future" (1976).

References

Books and interviews of Willis Harman by Jeffery Mishlove [http://www.williamjames.com/bookstore/wharman.htm]

Brazil's Willis Harman House in São Paulo [http://www.willisharmanhouse.com.br/whh/default_2004.asp]

Willis Harman on Changing Assumptions [http://www.shiftinaction.com/discover/audios/willis_harman/changing_assumptions]

Revisioning Science: an interview With Dr. Willis Harman [http://www.healthy.net/scr/interview.asp?Id=291]