HISTORY OF FUTURE
Instructional goals
Learning to think prospectively
Intended learning outcomes
Improve one's imagination to think about possible, probable and preferable futures
Course Contents
To know and experience the tools of historical research, future studies, and design thinking
Reference Books
- Luca De Biase, Apologia del futuro, Luiss University Press, 2024
- David Staley, History and Future, Lexington Books 2010
- Jenny Andersson, The future of the world, Oxford university press 2018
- Luca De Biase, Apologia del futuro, Luiss 2024
Teaching Methods
Dialogue lectures, guest lectures and project work for groups or individuals
Assessment Method
Oral exams on the topics covered in class, read in the recommended books, and presentation of a personal written paper
Thesis assignment criteria
to be defined
Week 1
setting the scene: structure of the course
Week 2
The future does not exist. What we think exists, and it has consequences.
Week 3
History is not the research about the past: it is the research about time.
Week 4
Contemporary facts as source of questions.
Week 5
Case studies
Week 6
Frames and freedom from prejudice
Week 7
Paradigms, narratives, frames, models, and their consequences of decision making
Week 8
Formats for futures studies: critical analysis
Week 9
Alternative futures and preferable futures
Week 10
Futures design thinking for preferable futures
Week 11
Case studies and students' projects
Week 12
Discussion about student's projects