Futures studies

Slaughter says: “The study of the ways in which futures could happen. Note the plural: this makes it clear that at least some aspects of our futures are not predetermined. Futures studies is an emerging academic discipline that reflects on how today’s changes and continuities become tomorrow’s reality. It attempts to analyze the sources, patterns, and causes of change and stability in order to develop foresight and to map alternative futures. Unfortunately, use of the plural "futures" causes some confusion with market trading of commodity futures - perhaps a reason for the use of the alternative word foresight to describe the study of the future/s. “ According to John McHale, future studies includes all forms of looking into the future, from trend extrapolation to utopia. It includes attempts to predict and analyze what might occur in the future of human history.