What is the Future?

John Urry

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English

Blackwell Publishing
24 June 2016

Society & Social Sciences; Social forecasting, future studies; Sociology

Thinking about the future has become essential. States, corporations, universities, cities, NGOs and individuals believe they cannot miss the future. But what exactly is the future? It remains a mystery Ð perhaps the greatest mystery of all Ð since futures are unpredictable, uncertain and often unknowable, the outcome of many known and unknown unknowns. The future can rarely be simply extrapolated from the present.

In this important new book, John Urry seeks to capture many efforts that have been made to anticipate, visualise, elaborate and perform the future. This includes examining methods that have been used to model the future, from those of the RAND corporation to imagined future worlds within philosophy, literature, film, TV, and computer games. He shows that futures are often contested and saturated with different interests, especially in relation to future unborn generations. He shows how analyses of social institutions, practices and lives should be central to examining potential futures and issues as to who owns the future.

The future seems to be characterised by ‘wicked problems’. There are multiple ‘causes’ and ‘solutions’, long-term lock-ins and complex interdependencies, and social groups having radically different frames for understanding what is at stake. Urry explores these issues through case-studies of 3D printing and the future of manufacturing, contested mobilities in the city, and the futures of energy and climate change.

By: John Urry
Imprint: Blackwell Publishing
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 226mm, Width: 152mm, Spine: 18mm
Weight: 363g
ISBN: 9780745696546
ISBN 10: 0745696546
Pages: 200
Publication Date: 24 June 2016
Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , A / AS level , Further / Higher Education
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

* Contents * Preface *1. Introduction: The Future Has Arrived * Part 1 - A Brief History of the Future *2. Past Futures *3. New Catastrophic Futures * Part 2 - Complex Systems and the Future *4. Time and Complex Systems *5. Innovating Futures *6. Methods for Making Futures * Part 3 - Future Scenarios *7. Manufacturing Future Worlds *8. Cities on the Move *9. Climates *10. Conclusion: The Future of Futures * References * Index

John Urry (1946-2016) was Distinguished Professor of Sociology at Lancaster University