Share your inspiration
Things that may inspire different ways of thinking, doing and knowing
Professional Western culture, and to some extent global culture, bases it’s thinking and knowing on drawing relatively certain conclusion from data. That way of answering questions and indeed solving problems was a big step forward, particularly in the second half of the 20th century. That method, however, assumes that future is enough like the past so that we can use past data to predict future condition. That assumption is not wrong, but we believe it is becoming less valid as serious disruptions continue to rock the world in this century. As a result, we recommend using foresight, which includes a recognition of the large uncertainties rather than straight-line extrapolation or systems model alone as a way to understand the complete future, that part which is like the past and that part which is not.
Where are you drawing excitement, inspiration, opportunity, energy?
Most students are taught nothing about understanding the future in school. And what they do pick is mistaken – i.e., that the future is predictable as it is science class and deterministic as it appears to be in history class. Foresight is gaining acceptance and use in the adult world. It’s time to introduce it to our children before they become adults.
What links, suggestions of initiatives, reading, events, podcasts you think everyone should know about? Feel free to share as many as come to mind!
Mark Sackler, Seeking Delphi
Peter Hayward, FuturePod
Jane McGonigal, Introduction to Future Thinking
Teach the Future
Shaping Our Future, workshop and video
Do you know of anyone using a collective futures approach that centers both people and planet?
Most foresight professionals, particularly those working in the non-profit and public sectors, do that.
~ Peter Bishop
Learn more about RSA Fellowship website here