[ExI] What's Wrong With Academic Futurists?

[Giulio Prisco]

Hi Robin, welcome back. This list is still alive with occasional
bursts of activity, but it is not what it used to be in the 90s. We
should do something to revive the list.

Concerning academic futurism, I have the highest respect for the many
great people who practice it, but I am not very much interested
myself. I am more interested in inspiring, highly imaginative ideas
than in trying to predict detailed outcomes. Some of what we imagine
here will come true, or things even more wonderful.

On Wed, Jan 22, 2014 at 11:41 PM, Robin D Hanson <rhanson at gmu.edu> wrote:
> Howdy everyone. I've been away from this list for many years, but thought I
> might try it again. I've been lurking for a few days to get a feel, but not
> sure it has told me that much. So let me start out by asking a question.
>
> There is an academic specialty of futurism. That is, there are professors,
> journals, and even some departments which specialize in that topic. Do
> people here often read or cite such folks? It seems not, but then the
> question is why not. What is the problem with academic futurists such that
> people on a future oriented list like this aren't much interested in them?
>
> Robin Hanson  http://hanson.gmu.edu
> Res. Assoc., Future of Humanity Inst., Oxford Univ.
> Assoc. Professor, George Mason University
> Chief Scientist, Consensus Point
> MSN 1D3, Carow Hall, Fairfax VA 22030
> 703-993-2326 FAX: 703-993-2323
>
>
>
>
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