Amid a pandemic that was all but predicted by biosecurity experts, there has been an obsession with the kind of thinking that attempts to forecast such catastrophes. We see it everywhere—from journalism, to advertising, to defense planning—suggesting that a future world we once could only imagine is imminent. Look no further than the Economist, which advertised its annual “What If?” issue as offering “compelling predictive scenarios…with an eye to what could happen.” A recent Nike commercial opens with the word “TOMORROW” splashed across the screen, then envisions a world in which incredible athletic records are set and running shoes grow on trees. As the pace of the commercial picks up, the announcer breathlessly proclaims “I don’t know what this is but it looks amazing!” as people riding hobby horses compete to cross a finish line, apparently unaware that it is already an organized sport.
Is the U.S. military’s futurism obsession hurting national security? (brookings.edu)
