Strategic and Critical Analysis of Codified Postulates of Futures Studies

Abstract

Through recent decades, number of thinkers have proposed a set of assumptions or postulates for futures studies, representing the core substance of a cognitive-normative frame in this field. The adequacy of these propositions to shape the conceptual frame of futures studies, requires careful study alongside critical and strategic reflection. Therefore, the structural and content evaluation of these principal propositions by some of futurists and authors of this article is compiled and presented, that indicates crucial weaknesses and essential defects in those propositions.Generally, two main approaches could be considered for the enhancement of existing conceptual frames; revising current literature, or devising a basically novel frame. Both approaches demand the deep review of key concepts in current assumption sets. Therefore, in this research, an aggregated list of the main concepts of futures studies is presented. The study of these concepts in details, especially in the category of “actors”, reveals the hidden emphasis on humanism within all formal conceptual frames of futures studies. In these frames, the role of God’s will and his messengers in human life is completely neglected. Hence, the application of macro or micro concepts about God’s will in developing new conceptual frame would be a significant novelty for theists and especially, Muslim intellectuals

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