Résumé: "This book is for all those - community workers, adult educators, social activists of every kind - who want to overcome pessimism and play a part in changing society in the direction of peace, justice and dignity for all human beings."--BOOK JACKET. "The author explains the social and personal dilemmas which hold people back from social engagement. But, he argues, the various constraints we face can be overcome. Human beings are open-ended 'possibilities in process' - the missing link between a deterministic past and an intentional and conscious future. And he explores a range of issues which impact on our ability as social actors, seeing an education which really nurtures authentic human learning as crucially important."--BOOK JACKET. "In the concluding chapters, he puts forward the notion of an 'open conspiracy' where citizens come together in a public and broad-based manner, in a variety of 'theatres' of reflection and action, in order to transform elements of the prevailing social order."--BOOK JACKET.