Objective:

This article aims to reconsider the role of the "problem" in futures studies in Iran and to critically assess prevailing approaches to defining, understanding, and framing problems. It argues that the concept of a problem is not merely an entry point for future analysis, but a foundational element in shaping imagination, agency, and openness toward the future.

Methodology:

This is a conceptual-analytical study that employs document analysis and theoretical comparison. The article develops a fourfold typology of problem orientations—instrumental, technological, institutional, and discursive—and examines them through comparative critique.

Findings:

The study reveals that instrumental and institutional approaches reduce problems to predefined external data, turning futures studies into a tool for reinforcing the status quo. In contrast, discursive and interpretive perspectives reconstruct futures studies as a space for redefining horizons, enabling social imagination, and transforming meaning.

Conclusion:

Reframing the concept of a problem is essential for enhancing the quality of futures studies in Iran. Only through problem-conscious inquiry can futures thinking evolve into a creative, multi-layered, culturally embedded, and participatory field, one that transcends the limits of technical analysis and formal decision-making.