History has upon multiple occasions shown society that many experiences and events can often be repeated. Founder of the World Future Society, Edward Cornish, has suggested that by looking back and identifying the many patterns of past events and the accompanying behavioral responses, we can gain a powerful insight for knowing what could happen in the future, which would thereby allow for a more logically and ethically sound response. Subsequently, this preparation of thought should result in a potentially better outcome than before (2004). It can easily be supported that current events are better defined and evaluated through comparison.
Not as easily understood is how individuals in society define and interpret history, which ultimately affects response to current events and global considerations. As an example, as we look into the modern day, we see a broken ecosphere that has fallen victim to progress and a global cry of manifest destination. Human comforts and feats are ever increasing as the environment declines. The world is juggled between those that do not have their most vital needs met, and those have an overabundance of necessities, and choice of the people play into every bit of its future. Those that have the abundance are able to consider and compare their current roles and define their place within the environmental decline; which as a result of self and ego, tends to not be at the benefit of the environment, regardless of past knowledge. Simply stated, such individuals have chosen to repeat the past. The extinction of many flora and fauna, from the Wooly Mammoth to the Javen Rhino, were primarily choices on mankind’s part. Conservation biology as a means of holding critical information for developing future directions and goals is a vital area as it pertains to attempting to remedy current ecological concerns (Pearson & Cassola, 2007).
Consideration of the complexities of human comparison and choice, when using the past as a caliber and tool that affects the future, is difficult. Situational awareness is vital to the creation of a possible outcome. Yet remaining attuned to the world, in a media and technology driven society, becomes increasingly difficult. Progressively, it appears that media drives on a global scale what mankind wishes to be worried about, and dulls the masses into complacency. Media drives comparison and encourages, if not rewards, negative choices, such that modern “haves” think little to the past, and more upon what the magic window in their living rooms tells them to (Rejeski, 2006). Deculturalization of the world results from this mass following, and further risks negative events in history to repeat itself. That said, mankind can come away from the complacency, if only they should choose to. Looking into the past, understanding the role of past in the present, and using the knowledge gained to better prepare the future is mankind’s greatest challenge, and surest hope.
Cornish, E. (2004). Futuring: The exploration of the future. Bethesda. World Future Society.
Pearson, D. L., & Cassola, F. (2007). Are we doomed to repeat history? A model of the past using tiger beetles (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) and conservation biology to anticipate the future. Journal Of Insect Conservation, 11(1), 47-59. doi:10.1007/s10841-006-9018-9
Rejeski, D. L. (2006). Has Futurism Failed?. Wilson Quarterly, 30(1), 14.