Under the category “Quotes,” I am gathering a wide range of epigrams, excerpts, outtakes, sayings, proverbs, and generally smart or interesting or appalling things that people have said about the future. Some of these will end up as epigrams in the book.
In development. “Humans: Future of” is the category for texts and artifacts related to how we specifically imagine our own future as a species. This category overlaps a bit with others, such as “Future: Visions of” and “Philosophy & Religion” — but the question of what humans want to become is so central to this … Continue reading About this Category: Humans: Future of
In development. The category of “Philosophy” includes texts and artifacts connected to philosophical treatment of the future: examining our beliefs and concepts about it, as well as our interpretations of what science is telling us regarding what the future is, and how we should relate to it. Note that ethics and ethical deliberation is almost … Continue reading About this Category: Philosophy & Ethics
In development. “Humans: Study of” is the category for texts and artifacts related to anthropological, archaeological, psychological, sociological, or other inquiries into how humans function with regard to their relationship with the future.
In development. “Future: Study of” is the category for texts and artifacts related to professional future studies, including the practice of trend forecasting, scenario development, and analyses of how planning and goal-setting do or do not succeed in producing intended outcomes. This category also includes a review of the basic concepts and methods, or “modes”, … Continue reading About this Category: Future: Study of
In development. “Future: Visions of” is the category for texts and artifacts related to specific descriptions of expected or desired futures. These can range from formal vision statements (such as those found in organizational documents) to journalistic or fictional portrayals. Very positive future visions are often called “utopias,” while negative visions are known as “dystopias.” … Continue reading About this Category: Future: Visions of
Under the topic “World” you will find texts and artifacts related to how humans conceive of the human world — the “age of consciousness” in the oldest meaning of the word — and its future. For the world is very different from the Earth: it is a human creation. (Sometimes the two concepts do overlap, … Continue reading About this Category: World
In development. Under the topic “Science & Technology,” you will find texts and artifacts related to these fundamental drivers of change and shapers of our future. Note that science and technology, while deeply related, are two very different things: science seeks understanding about how the universe works, while technology seeks to change how the world … Continue reading About this Category: Science & Technology
In development. Under the topic “Sustainability,” you will find texts and artifacts related to a concept fundamental to “The Optimist Trilogy”: the ability of our way of life to continue into the future. Included in this category are related phrases such as “Sustainable Development,” “Resilience,” and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (“SDGs”). Sustainability — … Continue reading About this Category: Sustainability
In development. Under the topic “Resources,” you will find texts and artifacts on the physical materials and energy sources that we exploit, use, reuse, and/or throw away. Our relationship to resources says a great deal about how we think about the future.
