Dreams are the only way we can see the future.

What is a dream?

A dream is a series of images, ideas, emotions and sensations that occur involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep. The content and purpose of dreams are not fully understood, although they have been a topic of scientific speculation throughout history. The scientific study of dreams is called oneirology.

Why do we dream?

Dreams are thought to have evolved from an earlier function to help humans learn and plan for the future. In this view, dreams evolved to deal with the problems of human existence: “How am I going to survive tomorrow?” Humans live in a much more complex world than other animals, and as hunter-gatherers spent much more time planning for the future than any other animal. This required becoming good at imagining possible futures, which then required being able to simulate those futures in one’s mind.