FORESIGHT TECHNOLOGIES: HISTORY AND ANALYSIS

The concept of "foresight" is investigated, with different approaches to its definition being traced. A comparative analysis is conducted between foresight and forecasting. From this analysis, it is concluded that foresight represents a more flexible methodology for studying the future. In foresight research, expert methods play a crucial role, introducing greater subjectivity into the studies. As a result, much depends on the qualifications of the experts involved. Foresight studies exhibit a specific temporal paradox; like forecasting, they are directed toward the future. However, the purpose of foresight is not merely to create a prediction as a completed act but to manage society toward achieving a desired future formed through a consensus among experts. Based on an analysis of current specialized literature from both Ukrainian and foreign sources, an original definition of foresight technologies is proposed. The evolution of foresight technologies worldwide and their praxeological potential for a knowledge-based society are analyzed. Six stages of development of foresight technologies are identified. It is emphasized that foresight technologies continuously evolve to effectively respond to the challenges of the contemporary world. The main objective of foresight technologies is not merely to predict the future but to actively construct and shape it, thus creating conditions for achieving the desired future. This proactive role makes foresight technologies a crucial instrument for sociocultural transformations. The potential for using foresight technologies for research, management, and the construction of the future is outlined. The paper emphasizes the necessity of implementing foresight technologies for sociocultural transformations in Ukraine.