Human beings have lived under the aegis of tradition, custom, habit—­thinking and acting “normally” and “naturally” in ways accepted by their forebears and followed by them with little or no regard for reason, foresight, or creative imagination.  Rudiments of all three capacities were known to exist in human beings.  On the whole, the status quo has been preferred; innovation frowned upon and innovators discouraged, denounced, reviled and sometimes even put to death.

In the field of natural science revolutionary short-cutting through the use of man’s creative imagination has been widely used.  The great revolution is one aspect of the anticipated result.  Similar revolutionary short-cutting in the field of social science and social technology is bound to produce a “new man” in the same way that similar practices have remodeled, regenerated and renewed man’s relations with nature, and his theories and practices of association.

Despite efforts of the Establishment to impose conformity, non-conforming individuals continued to be born and to grow up as deviants, misfits and intentional non-conformists.  Some of these rebels against the established social order left home, joined the army or went to sea.  Others stayed at home, bided their time and, when opportunity offered, joined with like-minded fellows in organized underground opposition or open rebellion against the status quo.

History reports the existence of such dissident individuals and social groups and movements in one civilization after another.

In a very real sense any invention, discovery or innovation in any field of human thought or action, if widely accepted or adopted automatically, becomes a revolt against the status quo.  Our experience with innovation during two centuries of the great revolution gives us every reason to suppose that the flow of scientific and technical invention and discovery will continue for an indefinite period into our future.  On the whole the evidence suggests increase rather than decrease of innovation and therefore of change.

A time of troubles such as that through which western civilization is now passing offers individuals and social groups unique opportunities to play significant roles in shaping the course of events.  In every human population there are individuals who are dissatisfied with the status quo and prefer change to status.  For such individuals a time of social troubles is a holiday.

There is also an ever-renewing social group for whom a time of troubles presents a challenge and an opportunity—­the young people of the on-coming generation.

Adults are generally conditioned and shaped by the social situation into which they were born and in which they matured.  Young people are passing through the conditioning process.  They are undergoing the process of rapid change.

Young people in their teens and early twenties stand, usually hesitant, on the threshold of life.  They are bursting with energy, eager, hopeful, anxious to enter the stream of adult activity.  Inexperienced, they under-estimate the difficulties, taking up any line of activity that promises quick results.  They are impressionable and generally seeking “a good life.”