Construction of meaning

In an earlier, 'naturalistic' view, meanings were taken-for-granted, settled, and complete. However, a series of discoveries in linguistics, semiotics, etc. and especially the practice of 'deconstruction' showed that meanings are the outcome of social processes. Hence, they are largely 'constructed' or made, rather than given. This has tended to overturn the authority of received meaning. However,, it also liberates people to take a more active and creative role. This is of great value in a futures context because it emphasizes the active potential which is a springboard for social invention. However this can easily be overstated and turned into an ideological attack on all pre-existing structures and meanings.