Based on Heilbruner's thesis (1959) in "The Future as History," an understanding of the historical strengths, weaknesses, institutional forms, and trends in adult education can help predict its future. The flexibility and diversity of adult education have been tremendous advantages. They have also contributed to the confusion over what adult education is. Demographic forces that will make adult and continuing education a primary concern for educators include increasing adult populations, increasing adult education participation, and career transition. Accumulating evidence indicates that society is less literate and well informed than was true a generation ago. Mass media are blamed as contributors to that increase in illiteracy. Adult and continuing educators are, more and more, graduates of doctoral programs. The literature supports contentions that the field of adult education lacks a solid foundation of scholarship and is weak in theory. Implications of demographics for the future imply a substantial demand for occupational and career training, enrollment increases, and changes in student composition enrolled in traditional academia. Educators will have to impart a capacity to learn and provide computer literacy training. Research on adult education will grow. The increased recognition of adult and continuing education will bring it a new status as an academic discipline. (YLB)