Introduction

Humanity will not survive into the distant future merely by chance. There are simply too many catastrophic risks threatening our existence. Many existential risks, such as climate change and loss of biodiversity, have been years in the making and will require years of concerted effort to reduce. That humanity struggles with being futures-oriented is too kind a portrayal because pervasive myopia characterizes every aspect of human society. Religious beliefs that embrace determinism and fatalism implicitly communicate that our futures are beyond human control. Individualism enshrines narcissism and diverts attention from the shared human projects of anticipation, sustainability, and futures-oriented thinking. With respect to sustainability, anticipation takes on a more sober personality. We can anticipate economic disruptions and social troubles that could lead to needless wars and uncontrolled pandemics. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.