A Brief History of Futures. (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schultz, Wendy L.
• Is Part Of: World future review. Volume 7:Number 4(2015)
• Page Start: 324
• Page End: 331
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: futures studies -- futures -- images of the future -- foresight -- history of ideas; Forecasting -- Periodicals; Forecasting -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Social prediction -- Periodicals; Social indicators -- Periodicals; 303.49
• DOI: 10.1177/1946756715627646
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1946-7567

Abstract

This article provides a brief overview of the development of futures thinking and futures studies as exploratory activities, as applied research, and as an academic field. Beginning with prehistory, the narrative divides the development of futures work into five waves: (1) the oral tradition, (2) the early written age, (3) enlightenment and extraction, (4) systems and cybernetics, and (5) complexity and emergence. It also highlights in broad strokes the intellectual, cultural, political, economic, technological, and social contexts that informed the evolution of futures thinking.