What if history had taken a different course, technology transformed humanity, or the world was not what it seems? Through thought-provoking scenarios spanning philosophy, history, politics, art and science, we’ll challenge assumptions, explore alternative futures and consider the consequences of the choices we make. Join us to question the familiar, debate the possibilities and discover new ways of thinking about the world and our place in it.

DELIVERY MODE 

• Face to face

COURSE OUTLINE

Each week is a new topic, so it doesn’t matter if you miss a session.

• The rise and fall of futurology - How do we imagine the future, and can we ever predict what is coming? Explore the history of futurology, scenario planning and alternative futures, from the thinkers who first developed these ideas to the ways we now use them to make sense of an uncertain world.
• What if death were the question and poetry the reply? What can poetry tell us about death, mortality and the limits of human existence? This philosophical exploration considers how poets have confronted finitude, grief and the great unknown, inviting us to think differently about what it means to live with the knowledge that life must end.
• What if the French had colonised Australia? What might Australia look like today if France, rather than Britain, had colonised Australia? Compare French and British colonial approaches, consider how each shaped the societies they encountered, and explore what this counterfactual history can reveal about colonisation, culture and decolonisation today.
• What if there was another pandemic in our lifetime? If another pandemic struck Australia, would we respond differently? Explore how communities might react to lockdowns, public health measures and government restrictions, whether Australia would be better prepared, and what another pandemic could mean for our mental health, wellbeing, economy and society.
• The great silence - What if humanity's greatest threat were not war or climate change, but simply fewer people being born? Examine declining birth rates, falling marriage rates, loneliness and changing patterns of relationships. Consider the social, cultural and technological forces behind these trends, and what they might mean for the future of humanity.
• What if the Persians had won the war against Greece in the 5th century BC? What if Persia had defeated the Greeks in the 5th century BC? Would Athenian democracy have survived? Would Rome have risen? Explore this fascinating alternative history and consider how a Persian victory might have transformed Europe and the wider world. Along the way, examine enduring questions about democracy, authoritarianism and political power.
• Many eyes on one canvas: Exploring different viewpoints - Can one painting have many different meanings? Explore how art interpretation and personal perspective shape our experience of an artwork. Consider the relationship between artist, artwork and viewer, and whether an artist's intentions should determine how we understand what we see.
• What if our elected leaders went rogue and started interfering with democratic norms? What would happen if an elected Australian Prime Minister began overturning democratic norms? Explore how Australia's political and constitutional systems might respond, what safeguards exist to protect democracy, and how citizens, institutions and political parties might react to an unprecedented crisis of democratic government.
• Imagine: The power of asking 'What if?' What happens when we question the assumptions that limit our lives? Drawing on history, philosophy and the experiences of remarkable individuals, explore the transformative power of asking "what if?" From Gandhi to Beryl Markham and the teachings of Jainism, consider how curiosity, purpose and resilience can open unexpected possibilities.
• What if we’re dreaming? What if reality is not quite what we think it is? Explore some of the strangest and most fascinating questions in philosophy, physics and cosmology. Could we be living in a simulation? Do we really have free will? Could humanity become extinct? And what if the universe is something stranger still? Come prepared to question almost everything.