Defining the Future: Concepts and Definitions as Linguistic Fundamentals of Foresight
The future is explored and created through language. Terminology, concepts and definitions form fundamental ingredients for foresight, leading into inferences, conjectures, narratives and stories. Many futures methods rely on a specific lingo, some of whi
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Defining the Future: Concepts and Definitions as Linguistic Fundamentals of Foresight Ruud van der Helm
Once having recognized that the dictionary is not a stable and univocal image of a semantic universe, one is free to use it when one needs it. Umberto Eco
2.1
Introduction
The future is explored and created through language. Terminology, concepts and definitions form fundamental ingredients for foresight, leading into inferences, conjectures, narratives and stories. Many futures methods rely on a specific lingo, some of which has even been trademarked. Although not always duly recognised, the importance of language as an instrument for foresight cannot be overstated. Or, in the words of Richard Slaughter (1996), introducing his Advanced Futures Glossary1: “It’s well known that concepts and words are bearers of thoughts and ideas. What’s less well known is that the language of Futures Studies is a rich and powerful symbolic resource in its own right that opens up new worlds of understanding and possibility”. The importance of semantics warrants an analysis of how language functions and what it contributes to a better understanding of the future. We will focus here on one
This chapter was inspired by the work of Working Group Zero on Concepts and Definitions of the European COST Network on Foresight Methodologies (COST A22). 1
See: www.foresightinternational.com.au
R. van der Helm (*) Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Benin, Ministry of Foreign Affairs HMA COTONOU / Loc. 134, P.O. Box 12200, 2500 DD The Hague, Netherlands e-mail: [email protected] M. Giaoutzi and B. Sapio (eds.), Recent Developments in Foresight Methodologies, Complex Networks and Dynamic Systems 1, DOI 10.1007/978-1-4614-5215-7_2, © Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013
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particular dimension of this wide domain of semantic research: concepts and definitions. The objective of this chapter is to provide more insight into how definitions of future-relevant terminology are shaped and laid down in semantic resources. We proceed by taking the following five steps. First, we develop the reasons and the relevance of our undertaking. There are differing views on the importance of semantic research, especially in cases where futures studies are seen as a practical exercise. Then we look into how the futures domain has dealt with concepts and definitions, focusing on existing glossaries, dictionaries and encyclopaedias. After that, we move back into theory by discussing four approaches to establishing a definition. We will deepen the obtained insights by analysing how semantic issues have been dealt with by two recent Ph.D. theses that clearly position themselves in the futures domain. Finally, we come up with some conclusions on how to proceed with semantic research and the enrichment of the futures domain that it may yield.
2.2
Concepts, Vocabulary and Definitions
Since futures knowledge is to a large extent captured in language, semantic research is a necessary part of the futures domain (see M
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