An Inquiry into the Human Prospect

Robert Heilbroner's An Inquiry into the Human Prospect is a work that explores the future of humanity, particularly in the context of environmental challenges and societal sustainability. The book is associated with "apocalyptic environmentalism," a perspective that emerged in the 1960s and 1970s, suggesting that Earth's capacity to sustain human life was reaching its limits.1

Heilbroner argued that human survival might necessitate a reduction in personal freedoms to manage environmentally harmful activities. This viewpoint was part of a broader discussion in futurology, the study of current trends to forecast future developments, which gained prominence with works like The Limits to Growth. These discussions often centered on concerns about population growth, industrial expansion, pollution, and resource depletion.21