Polarity: future-present

Distinguishing Emergent Conceptual Polarities: experimental ordering of a collection of research papers (Part #9)

Future -- Present

Future: Explorations have been particularly influenced by the discipline of futures studies which has provided a context, thanks to Mankind 2000, for the preparation of the Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential, 1976, 1986, 1991, 1995). The thematic opportunities of the conferences of the World Futures Studies Federation, have provided a focus for a number of papers (World Problem Networks as perceived by international organization networks, 1976; Development: beyond "science" to "wisdom", 1979; Metaphoric revolution; in quest of a manifesto for governance through metaphor, 1988; Aesthetics of governance...in the year 2491, 1990; Participative Democracy vs. Participative Drama, 1991; Metaphor as an Unexplored Catalytic Language for Global Governance, 1993; Future generation through global conversation, 1997).

A particular concern has been the role of metaphor in articulating, and constraining, future opportunities (Metaphor and the Language of Futures, 1992, 1994; The Future of Leadership: reframing the unknown, 1994; Richer Metaphors for Our Future Survival, 1996). The metaphoric approach to futures is consistent with a radical perspective (noted earlier).

Present: This contrast to the futures perspective (above) has been the subject of explorations of the integration of the future into the present (Presenting the Future, 2001), whether in terms of composing and engendering the present (2001), present research (2001), or thriving in the moment (2001).

Such investigations are associated with the possibility of radica approaches to understanding of time, whether by alternative communities (Embodying a Timeship vs. Empowering a Spaceship, 2003), from a mytho-poetic (2002) or purely speculative perspective (People as Stargates, 1996), or as constrained by metaphor (Metaphoric entrapment in time, 2000), or as a strategic opportunity for individuals (The Isdom of the Wisdom Society: Embodying time as the heartland of humanity, 2003). From a more mundane perspective, the challenge of time management in conferences has also been a concern (1994).

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Polarity: future-present