Samenvatting

Human beings are, above all, narrative creatures, extremely sensitive to good stories. The (implicit) stories of futurologists have their own characteristic structure, when they outline what our future full of technology will look like. One element of their narrative structure is often that the speaker, through an important (personal) life event, has come to understand the deeper meaning of how we as humanity are moving from the still imperfect present to a perfect future. A classic, Saul became Paul, or Ebenezer Scrooge an enlightened and fine man, after his encounter with the spirits. However, a good story that moves an entire room does not make it true. Right now, when our entire future is at stake, stories from futurologists who get it all are very welcome. Who would not want a happy ending told by an omniscient prophet? Unfortunately, they are even more misleading than welcome. It is argued why.