Future as SubjectFuture as Subject

Study of future as specific Study of future as specific aspect of history aspect of history

The Structure of The Structure of Scientific RevolutionsScientific Revolutions

19621962 Thomas KuhnThomas Kuhn ‘‘Paradigm shift’Paradigm shift’ It is not possible to

understand one paradigm through the conceptual framework and terminology of another rival paradigm

Paradigms Paradigms

‘‘World view’World view’ WeltanschauungWeltanschauung Zeitgeist Zeitgeist

Broadest cultural perspective of beauty, truth, and reality

Future ShockFuture Shock 19701970

Alvin Toffler Alvin Toffler

Treatment of the ‘acceleration of history’ as result of mass communication and globalism

Theory of historyTheory of history

Pre-modernPre-modern: God-centered: God-centered ModernModern: Science-centered: Science-centered PostmodernPostmodern: Mixed and compressed: Mixed and compressed

Pre-modernPre-modern

Holy textsHoly texts Magical thinkingMagical thinking Male-dominated family and clanMale-dominated family and clan Heroes, gods, kings, saintsHeroes, gods, kings, saints

Early-ModernEarly-Modern

Classical and Eastern textsClassical and Eastern texts Romantic thinkingRomantic thinking Exaltation of female Exaltation of female Tragic, national , & romantic heroes Tragic, national , & romantic heroes

Late-ModernLate-Modern

Natural science textsNatural science texts Scientific methodScientific method Individuality/alienationIndividuality/alienation Disillusion with scienceDisillusion with science Weltschmerz Weltschmerz Transition from Pre-Modern: Galileo, Transition from Pre-Modern: Galileo,

Newton, DarwinNewton, Darwin

Post-ModernPost-Modern

Nietzsche denies ‘grand narrative’ textsNietzsche denies ‘grand narrative’ texts Freud deconstructs ‘human nature’Freud deconstructs ‘human nature’ Late-Modern Weltschmerz becomes playLate-Modern Weltschmerz becomes play Anachronism becomes typicalAnachronism becomes typical Low/high art mixedLow/high art mixed Derrida deconstructs ‘Truth, beauty, and Derrida deconstructs ‘Truth, beauty, and

reality’ reality’

‘‘Future’ becomes subjectFuture’ becomes subject

With advent of the New WorldWith advent of the New World With HumanismWith Humanism With the EnlightenmentWith the Enlightenment

Looking forward to a better time through science, or to a secular hell through the failure of science.

Science of timeScience of time

Time is a riverTime is a river

Patricide ParadoxPatricide Paradox

If you go back in time and kill If you go back in time and kill your father . . .your father . . .

Einstein’s Space/TimeEinstein’s Space/Time

44thth dimension dimension Space/time curved by massSpace/time curved by mass Time is a placeTime is a place

Einstein-Rosen BridgeEinstein-Rosen Bridge

•Black hole

•Event horizon

•Singularity

1974 Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle

Parallel UniversesParallel Universes

Time is not a riverTime is not a river

FlatlandFlatland 18841884

Edwin A. Abbot (AEdwin A. Abbot (A22))

Michio KakuMichio Kaku

““The best explanation for light is as The best explanation for light is as an interface between dimensions”an interface between dimensions”

----Hyperspace Hyperspace 19981998

M TheoryM Theory

Based on quantum theoryBased on quantum theory Evolved from String theoryEvolved from String theory Implies multiple universesImplies multiple universes

Probability of realityProbability of reality

Wave/particle basis of lightWave/particle basis of light Heisenberg Uncertainty PrincipleHeisenberg Uncertainty Principle Normal distribution of locationNormal distribution of location AsymptoticAsymptotic

Collapse of wave functionCollapse of wave function

The MultiverseThe Multiverse