The Discovery of the Future

The Discovery of the Future is a 1902 philosophical lecture written and delivered by the famous English author H. G. Wells at the ⁠Royal Institution. Unlike his famous science fiction novels like The Time Machine, this is a work of non-fiction and futurism. Its main argument is that the future is scientifically knowable and can be systematically predicted just like the past.

Two Divergent Types of Mind: Wells categorizes human mindsets into two contrasting views regarding time, morality, and progress:

The Retrospective (Legal/Submissive) Mind: This type looks backward. It is heavily focused on past precedents, established laws, and historical traditions to guide present decisions. Wells notes this is the mindset of the vast majority of people.

The Prospective (Legislative/Creative) Mind: This type looks forward. It values the present and past only in terms of what they can build or establish for the future. This mindset is driven by possibility, creation, and consequences.