[LINK] "Beyond Utopias and Dystopias"

[rfmcdonald]

At The Long Game, Matt Warren makes the simple point that the simple binary division of future thinkers between imagined dystopias (often of apocalyptic content) and hoped-for utopias (often of transcendant content). In Matt's words, "we usually choose between techno-hippies in silver unitards or a bands of people dug-into post-apocalyptia, resisting the onslaught of infected alien zombies."

(Good words, those.)

His central point, arguing from a blog post by Kevin Kelly and a TED talk by Stephen Lambert, is that the future generally won't be about great dramatic paradigm shifts and transformations. The world's usually more subtle.

The world is getting better, but the snail-like incremental change, at least when compared to a human lifespan, makes it harder to appreciate. But, if I am impatient, how the hell do I pencil in improving the world? Of course, the answer is obvious: Pithy bumper sticker.

[. . .]

So, we’re really bad at imagining the future, but, if we don’t dare to imagine it, it won’t happen. Along the way, a bunch of people die and spasms of social unrest echo through history. This sounds an awful lot like failing forward.