Social Theory on Future: A Case for Hope in Navigating Futurelessness

The understanding of time in sociology has evolved continuously alongside social theory. Time was first recognized as a social problem by scholars of the Durkheimian school, who emphasized the importance of collective rhythms and social integration. Phenomenological sociology and symbolic interactionism later portrayed time as the basis of individual human experience, focusing on how people experience and act in relation to time in their everyday lives. Theorists of modernism and postmodernism introduced the temporal dimension as an element of the social system, demonstrating how time is subject to historical and structural change.

The future has been embraced in sociology as a realized, autonomous and widely explored issue only relatively recently. Contemporary social theorists increasingly focus on the role of future perspectives in shaping modern life, discussing how time is now characterized by acceleration, alienation, and a suspension in the “eternal now”. These theories may explain the emerging sense of futurelessness that often accompanies life in the Anthropocene – a period marked by multiple crises, including ecological degradation, political instability, and pandemics. These circumstances force us to rethink traditional notions of time and progress as we face deep uncertainty about the future.

I argue that contemporary theories on time can help us understand this sense of disconnection from the future and point toward possible solutions. In response, I propose adopting hope as a key concept for reengaging with the future. Drawing on sociological and philosophical frameworks, I suggest that hope offers a way to maintain an open, rather than deterministic, approach to the future. By embracing hope, we might overcome feelings of futurelessness and encourage both individual and collective action to face the current challenges.