“The great convergence”: visionary illusion or megatrend?

Abstract

Megatrends are historical nexuses which gather and focus both obvious and subtle sub‐trends as a contribution to the history of future ideas. A substantive candidate of the twenty‐first century is “convergence”. That pursuit of “the unity of all knowledge” involves the integration, synthesis and confluence of different and often opposing intellectual concepts; and of seminal research developments and academic disciplines. Three major components and sets of authors are identified and examined: the technology of theology; the increasing interconnectedness of social, political and economic forces; and the interfacing of scientific, humanistic and spiritual domains.