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Future as Subject. Study of future as specific aspect of history. The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. 1962 Thomas Kuhn ‘Paradigm shift’. It is not possible to understand one paradigm through the conceptual framework and terminology of another rival paradigm. ‘World view’
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Future as Subject Study of future as specific aspect of history
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions • 1962 • Thomas Kuhn • ‘Paradigm shift’ It is not possible to understand one paradigm through the conceptual framework and terminology of another rival paradigm
‘World view’ Weltanschauung Zeitgeist Paradigms Broadest cultural perspective of beauty, truth, and reality
Future Shock1970 • Alvin Toffler Treatment of the ‘acceleration of history’ as result of mass communication and globalism
Theory of history • Pre-modern: God-centered • Modern: Science-centered • Postmodern: Mixed and compressed
Pre-modern • Holy texts • Magical thinking • Male-dominated family and clan • Heroes, gods, kings, saints
Early-Modern • Classical and Eastern texts • Romantic thinking • Exaltation of female • Tragic, national , & romantic heroes
Late-Modern • Natural science texts • Scientific method • Individuality/alienation • Disillusion with science • Weltschmerz • Transition from Pre-Modern: Galileo, Newton, Darwin
Nietzsche denies ‘grand narrative’ texts Freud deconstructs ‘human nature’ Late-Modern Weltschmerz becomes play Anachronism becomes typical Low/high art mixed Derrida deconstructs ‘Truth, beauty, and reality’ Post-Modern
‘Future’ becomes subject • With advent of the New World • With Humanism • With the Enlightenment Looking forward to a better time through science, or to a secular hell through the failure of science.
Science of time Time is a river
Patricide Paradox If you go back in time and kill your father . . .
Einstein’s Space/Time • 4th dimension • Space/time curved by mass • Time is a place
Einstein-Rosen Bridge • Black hole • Event horizon • Singularity 1974 Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle
Parallel Universes Time is not a river
Flatland1884 • Edwin A. Abbot (A2)
Michio Kaku • “The best explanation for light is as an interface between dimensions” --Hyperspace 1998
M Theory • Based on quantum theory • Evolved from String theory • Implies multiple universes
Probability of reality • Wave/particle basis of light • Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle • Normal distribution of location • Asymptotic