Whose job is it to shape the future?

The newly proposed SASM Institute wants to be an innovation launch pad for Science and Art projects using the power of Social Media.

The article Can Futurists shape the Future?  describes the intentions of the organization. In a discussion forum I’m part of about the article, the ethical question was asked about whether it was appropriate for futurists to shape the future vs predict it.

My bias…Individuals and organizations throughout history and the world today are shaping the future through their bias. And those on the other side are responding with their bias.

The future will happen whether we consciously participate in its creation or not. Not participating seems like a negligent response.

If we can imagine a future based on what we believe will be technically possible it’s important to discuss it, including the social implications. Creative exploration with imagined technologies will only broaden the possibilities.

Too often technologies and behaviors are introduced before there has been enough time for people contemplate and socialize them. Western society especially gets caught in a trend trap that has them quickly adopting things before understanding their long term implications. Take the issues with gene patenting going on presently.

Using the climate as another example, there are plenty of predictive tools looking at data today predicting global warming. How people respond to the information depends on their bias. Some focus on the cause, blame, prevention, adapting, denying, profit… Biases are usually self-serving; it’s human nature.

Imagining and shaping the future is everyone’s business; not just futurists.