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Groping toward the next stages of technology development and human society: A metaphor from an Iranian poet

Afshari-Mofrad, Masoud, Ghazinoory, Sepehr, Montazer, Gholam Al, Rashidirad, Mona (2016) Groping toward the next stages of technology development and human society: A metaphor from an Iranian poet. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 109 . pp. 87-95. ISSN 0040-1625. (doi:10.1016/j.techfore.2016.04.029) (Access to this publication is currently restricted. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:108457)

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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2016.04.029

Abstract

So far, the human society has experienced four stages of development namely: Hunter–gatherer age, Agricultural age, Industrial age and Information age. Many researchers have tried to explore some scenarios to envision where human being is going in the future but the question is still unresolved and there is no unique answer. This paper aims to probe the next stages using a metaphor of an ancient Persian poem from Attar Neyshaburi (that is one of the famous Iranian poets and mystics, lived around 13th century A.D.). In this poem, Attar argues that the wayfarer must traverse seven valleys to achieve perfection. In this paper, it is hypothesised that these valleys could provide a fruitful source of vision – as a metaphor – to think about the evolution of human society. The results suggest that the next three stages which human society would experience might be: Technological convergence age, Intelligence age and Post-humanity age. These results could be helpful in providing vision for the process of technology policy design and social development.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/j.techfore.2016.04.029
Uncontrolled keywords: Human society, Technology development, Future waves, Metaphor, Attar, Simurgh (Roc)
Subjects: H Social Sciences
Divisions: Divisions > Kent Business School - Division > Department of Marketing, Entrepreneurship and International Business
Funders: University of Brighton (https://ror.org/04kp2b655)
Depositing User: Mona Rashidirad
Date Deposited: 18 Jan 2025 17:05 UTC
Last Modified: 20 Jan 2025 13:42 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/108457 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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