Have you ever looked at the headlines and felt that "the future" sounds more like a looming disaster than a promise of progress? For many, the optimism of the mid-twentieth century has been replaced by a sense of global emergency, where the traditional markers of human success now impose non-negotiable costs on the planet. This episode explores a deeply personal and professional reflection on four decades in the futures field, asking how we can find genuine meaning and direction in what often feel like impossible times.

In this paper, Richard Slaughter traces his journey from a postwar "year zero" to the heights of professional foresight, arguing that our current situation is fundamentally abnormal and unsustainable. He suggests that the core of the problem is a mismatch between human perception and environmental reality, driven by a near-exclusive focus on instrumental power and economic growth. To move beyond this impasse, Slaughter calls for a "quest for meaning" that utilizes "depth appreciation"—a way of seeing the world that looks past the superficial to find the interconnected layers of reality hidden in music, art, and the natural world.

Tune in as we discuss how recovering our sense of authorship over society can help us navigate the descent toward a more viable future.

Ref:
Slaughter, Richard A. Futures Studies as a Quest for Meaning. World Futures Review, 2019, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1177/1946756719870277