Bibliograph

What is the future?, John Urry

Type

Label

What is the future?, John Urry

Language

eng

Bibliography note

Includes bibliographical references (pages 193-214) and index

Illustrations

illustrations

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

What is the future?

Nature of contents

bibliography

Oclc number

941582900

Responsibility statement

John Urry

Summary

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 perhaps the greatest mystery of all 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.--, Provided by Publisher

Table Of Contents

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

Classification