Robert Works Fuller, Ph.D. (1935-2025 ) was an American physicist, educator and social reformer. He was president of Oberlin College 1970–1974, where he championed diversity and curricular reform. He was enormously influential in both mine and Michael Toms’ lives as one of the most deserving guests of New Dimensions, who was featured 25 times over the years, beginning in 1979. His remarkable ability to cut through all the noise to the essence of whatever subject he was considering: from citizen diplomacy and world hunger to the Dignitarian Movement, he was the voice of calm reasoning and insightful vision. Here are four MP3s specially selected from the New Dimensions archive of programs.
A Better Game Than WarIf you have longed for a day when the end of war is conceivable, you owe it to yourself to listen to this conversation. Fuller says that perhaps it is the awareness of our own fascination with war, and the creaton of “a better game”—some exciting endeavor that is decidedly more benign. Read more »
Fuller talks about his own struggle with being a nobody between periods of high recognition and status. He has learned to respect the “nobody” inside himself because “The nobody is actually the creative fellow, while the somebody is just the performer. When you’re somebody, it’s really just a set of clothes you wear for a while.” Read more »
Whether Fuller is talking about the end of the cold war or the digitarian movement he’s constantly reminding us to ask better questions. It’s the questions we are formulating that gives us a clue into solving our personal and our global problems. Read more »
There is a saying, “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” So, how does it become entrenched and abused? Understanding the nature of power can help us move towards a world of freedom, justice and economic equity for all. Read more »
