Possibility and the temporal imagination

Embracing difference and cultivating hope: The transformative potential of Possibility Studies

“…Zurn and Bassett (2023) claim that the fundamental capacity of curiosity and so of possibility is the capacity to connect. For Facer (2023) connection is also an important outcome of cultivating a temporal imagination, connecting across different timescales. This also extends to research authorships as Wilkins et al (2023) demonstrates by explaining that while the words she uses may be hers but the research and ideas are deeply collaborative.…”

“…This leads Valsiner (2023) to suggest that we can use the space of Possibility Studies to engage with non-existent objects. Even supposedly rational inferences about the reality of counterfactuals require the use of imagination (Byrne, 2023) and imagination is the engine for interpersonal connection rather than confined to solipsistic mind wandering (Facer, 2023).…”

“…For Meretoja (2023) the notion of agency is essential to understanding how different groups enact their possibilities. We are reminded again of the limits on agency by Knight and Manley (2023) and Facer (2023). As such, part of the call that lies behind many of these contributions is a call to make future possibilities a part of present action and to ensure that we move away from a deterministic view of the future while also understanding the limitations and constraints.…”

“…In narratives, the past is constantly evolving, much like the future, with both being shaped by our present experiences (Hanchett Hanson, 2023). Facer (2023) argues that our world is shaped by temporal frames, which in turn structure the narratives we create about the world and guide our understanding and focus. Fixed temporal narratives obscure the plurality of such narratives, and as Facer points out, the potential for possibility lies in the differences between temporal rhythms.…”

“…It is not clear that we can fully access ‘reality’. Just as Hanchett Hanson (2023) argues imagination is limited, Facer (2023) argues that the world that we see is not all that is there; rather it is filtered through our own imagination and its naturalness may be limited. We may not be able to imagine ‘no countries’ (Hanchett Hanson, 2023) but countries are not a real natural kind – they are themselves construct of social imagination.…”