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premises [2019/01/13 11:09]
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premises [2019/01/13 11:10] (current)
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 Premises Premises
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 1. The Pascalian bet: one chance in 100 (or 1000) for humanity to survive the 21 st 1. The Pascalian bet: one chance in 100 (or 1000) for humanity to survive the 21 st
 century? century?
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 2. If that chance exists, we ought to be able to imagine it as sci-fi, no? 2. If that chance exists, we ought to be able to imagine it as sci-fi, no?
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 3. The power of utopias to awaken people to struggle is proven 3. The power of utopias to awaken people to struggle is proven
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 4. Today more than every people need a credible positive vision 4. Today more than every people need a credible positive vision
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 5. Looking backward from the future has many advantages. 5. Looking backward from the future has many advantages.
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 6. Marx’s believe in a future socialist society enabled him to analyze the present 6. Marx’s believe in a future socialist society enabled him to analyze the present
 capitalist society as temporary, part of a series of societies that rise and fall. capitalist society as temporary, part of a series of societies that rise and fall.
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 7. Looking backward simplifies complex situations as we “know” in what 7. Looking backward simplifies complex situations as we “know” in what
 direction they are going. direction they are going.
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 8. Looking backward as future historians keeps us from quarrelling like rival 8. Looking backward as future historians keeps us from quarrelling like rival
 sectarians as we have all been dead for at least 70 years. sectarians as we have all been dead for at least 70 years.
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 9. Basic rules for Future Historians: No Gods, no Extraterrestrials,​ no infallible 9. Basic rules for Future Historians: No Gods, no Extraterrestrials,​ no infallible
 vanguard parties. Plurality of future societies and roads thereto. vanguard parties. Plurality of future societies and roads thereto.
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 Methods (evolving) of our International Study Group and Collective Writing Methods (evolving) of our International Study Group and Collective Writing
 Project Project
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 During its first year, the Study Group outlined some twenty Study Topics, including During its first year, the Study Group outlined some twenty Study Topics, including
 Economics, Energy, Women, Utopias etc. From week to week, we gathered materials Economics, Energy, Women, Utopias etc. From week to week, we gathered materials
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 our WIKI at http://​futurehistorians.org/​doku.php?​id=start The originality of our our WIKI at http://​futurehistorians.org/​doku.php?​id=start The originality of our
 project is threefold: project is threefold:
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 1. Most previous utopian fictions don’t really tell us HOW people were about to 1. Most previous utopian fictions don’t really tell us HOW people were about to
 get from capitalist barbarism to a better world get from capitalist barbarism to a better world
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 2. The future societies proposed by Thomas Moore and his successors are all to 2. The future societies proposed by Thomas Moore and his successors are all to
 an extent monolithic, from Bellamy’s rigid socialism of Looking Backward to an extent monolithic, from Bellamy’s rigid socialism of Looking Backward to
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 Nowhere. Ours will be plural, pluralistic and planetary, with plenty of room Nowhere. Ours will be plural, pluralistic and planetary, with plenty of room
 for variety and individual taste. for variety and individual taste.
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 3. Often previous Utopias are not realistic, credible, in conformity with historical 3. Often previous Utopias are not realistic, credible, in conformity with historical
 and scientific/​technological knowns. and scientific/​technological knowns.
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 The solution to these problems we came up with is entitled: Then, Now, and How. It The solution to these problems we came up with is entitled: Then, Now, and How. It
 takes the form of a history book aimed at young people a century from today, which takes the form of a history book aimed at young people a century from today, which
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 the form of a Grid. This ever growing patchwork allows for great diversity and the form of a Grid. This ever growing patchwork allows for great diversity and
 avoids sectarian rigidity. (Show demonstration on line). avoids sectarian rigidity. (Show demonstration on line).
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 For THEN we patch together excerpts contemporary critical studies of capitalism into For THEN we patch together excerpts contemporary critical studies of capitalism into
 a coherent narrative and then change the very tenses into the past. We call this the a coherent narrative and then change the very tenses into the past. We call this the
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 into irrefutable historical accounts in the reader’s mind. Their long-dead authors get into irrefutable historical accounts in the reader’s mind. Their long-dead authors get
 referenced as “prescient.” referenced as “prescient.”
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 For NOW we borrow from every kind of predictive writing, fiction, authors For NOW we borrow from every kind of predictive writing, fiction, authors
 advocating ideas like municipal socialism and solar communism. Only we change the advocating ideas like municipal socialism and solar communism. Only we change the
premises.txt · Last modified: 2019/01/13 11:10 by admin