The Creative Imperative

The Creative Imperative first introduced the ideas of Creative Systems Theory and is still the place to go to find the most detailed presentations of many of the theory's concepts. (Creative Systems Theory is a comprehensive framework for understanding purpose, change, and interrelationship in human systems that makes major contributions both by bringing perspective to the history of ideas and by providing essential insights for understanding the times we live in and what they ask of us.) The Creative Imperative brings particular nuance to the theory's claim that we see parallel dynamics in the way human systems of all sorts grow and change -- individuals, relationships, organizations, and cultural systems. Because it draws so deeply on intelligence's multiplicity—not just the rational, but also the imagination, the emotional, and the intelligence of the body—for many people, it remains the definitive resource. The Creative Imperative provides a provocative starting point for anyone interested in bringing really big-picture perspective to understanding the richness and dynamism of the human endeavor.

The Creative Imperative first introduced the ideas of Creative Systems Theory and is still the place to go to find the most detailed presentations of many of the theory's concepts. (Creative Systems Theory is a comprehensive framework for understanding purpose, change, and interrelationship in human systems that makes major contributions both by bringing perspective to the history of ideas and by providing essential insights for understanding the times we live in and what they ask of us.) The Creative Imperative brings particular nuance to the theory's claim that we see parallel dynamics in the way human systems of all sorts grow and change -- individuals, relationships, organizations, and cultural systems. Because it draws so deeply on intelligence's multiplicity—not just the rational, but also the imagination, the emotional, and the intelligence of the body—for many people, it remains the definitive resource. The Creative Imperative provides a provocative starting point for anyone interested in bringing really big-picture perspective to understanding the richness and dynamism of the human endeavor.

Charles M. Johnston, MD is a psychiatrist and futurist. He is best known as the originator of Creative Systems Theory (a comprehensive framework for understanding purpose, change, and interrelationship in human systems) and for directing the Institute for Creative Development (a Seattle-based non-partisan think tank and center for advanced leadership training). He is the author of numerous books and articles on the future and how we can best prepare to meet it.