Wendell Bell

Wendell Bell (born September 27, 1924 in Chicago ; † November 3, 2019 ) was an American sociologist and futurologist who, with his cybernetic-decisionist model of social change, assumed an outsider position in his specialist field.

Life

Bell was born in Chicago but grew up in Fresno from the age of 4 . He was a naval aviator during World War II . In 1952 he received his Ph.D. from California State University, Los Angeles . PhD. He then taught at various North American universities. Since 1963 he was (eventually emeritus ) professor of sociology at Yale University .

Bell's main focus was comparative sociology, he played a leading role in African American Studies at Yale University, and initially urban sociology . In addition, he was increasingly concerned with the methodological foundations of future research in the social sciences. Like many of the older generation of futurologists, the question of whether futurology is an art or a science played a major role for him (Is Future Studies an Art or a Science?). At the center of his argument is that futurology is about rational thinking. In this respect, this is similar to scientific thinking, if not identical to it. In connection with future research, he developed his cybernetic-decisionist model of social change . According to this, individuals individually or in groups cause social change and are also affected by it. As a result, sociologists initiate social change with their scientific work. They have to take this into account in their professional practice.

Fonts (selection)

The Sociology of the Future and the Future of Sociology , in: Sociological Perspectives Vol. 39, No. 1, pp. 39-57
Foundations of Futures Studies I: History, Purposes, Knowledge , New Brunswick, New Jersey: Transaction Publishers, 1997
Foundations of Futures Studies II: Values, Objectivity and the Good Society , New Brunswick, New Jersey: Transaction Publishers, 1997

Web links

Wendell Bell at Yale University (English)

Individual evidence

↑ In Memoriam: Wendell Bell, sociologist helped found field of futures studies. Yale University, December 12, 2019, accessed December 12, 2019 .
^ Foundations of Futures Studies I: History, Purposes, Knowledge , New Brunswick, New Jersey: Transaction Publishers, 2009, page 165 ff.
↑ See Lee Braude: Bell, Wendell , in: Wilhelm Bernsdorf / Horst Knospe (eds.): Internationales Soziologenlexikon , Vol. 2, Enke, Stuttgart ² 1984, p. 58 f.

personal data
SURNAME	Bell, Wendell
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American sociologist
DATE OF BIRTH	September 27, 1924
PLACE OF BIRTH	Chicago
DATE OF DEATH	3rd November 2019

[1] In Memoriam: Wendell Bell, sociologist helped found field of futures studies. Yale University, December 12, 2019, accessed December 12, 2019 .

[2] Foundations of Futures Studies I: History, Purposes, Knowledge , New Brunswick, New Jersey: Transaction Publishers, 2009, page 165 ff.

[3] See Lee Braude: Bell, Wendell , in: Wilhelm Bernsdorf / Horst Knospe (eds.): Internationales Soziologenlexikon , Vol. 2, Enke, Stuttgart ² 1984, p. 58 f.