What is the Future? (Paperback)

Thinking about the future is essential for almost all organizations and societies. States, corporations, universities, cities, NGOs and individuals believe they cannot miss the future. But what exactly is the future? It remains a mystery perhaps the greatest mystery, especially because futures are unpredictable and often unknowable, the outcome of many factors, known and unknown. The future is rarely a simple extrapolation from the present. In this important book, John Urry seeks to capture the many efforts that have been made to anticipate, visualize and elaborate the future. This includes examining the methods used to model the future, from those of the RAND Corporation to imagined future worlds in philosophy, literature, art, film, TV and computer games. He shows that futures are often contested and saturated with different interests, especially in relation to future generations. He also shows how analyses of social institutions, practices and lives should be central to examining potential futures, and issues such as who owns the future. The future seems to be characterized by 'wicked problems'. There are multiple 'causes' and 'solutions', long-term lock-ins and complex interdependencies, and different social groups have radically different frames for understanding what is at stake. Urry explores these issues through case-studies of 3D printing and the future of manufacturing, mobilities in the city, and the futures of energy and climate change.

General

Imprint:	Polity Press
Country of origin:	United Kingdom
Release date:	June 2016
Authors:	J. Urry
Dimensions:	229 x 152 x 18mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback
Pages:	226
ISBN-13:	978-0-7456-9654-6
Categories:	Books > Social sciences > Sociology, social studies > Social research & statistics > Social forecasting, futurology Books > Social sciences > Sociology, social studies > Social institutions > General Promotions
LSN:	0-7456-9654-6
Barcode:	9780745696546

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