by Roberto Poli
ABSTRACT
After decades characterized by diminishing interest in the theoretical underpinning of futures studies, the past few years have seen the onset of a new concern with the foundation of futures studies. Interestingly, recent discussion has not been limited to the epistemological bases of futures studies but has also begun to address the problem of its ontological grounds. The paper discusses some of the elements of ontology that should become part and parcel of the set of categorical tools that any working futurist should have at his or her disposal, such as the theories of latents and levels of reality.