The concept of “lost futures” refers to the potential paths, possibilities, or outcomes that are no longer attainable due to past events, decisions, or systemic conditions. It often emerges in discussions of trauma, colonialism, or environmental degradation, where certain futures are foreclosed for individuals or communities. Philosophically, it raises questions about time, agency, and the ethical implications of irreversible loss, as well as how societies reckon with what might have been. Thinkers like Mark Fisher and Lauren Berlant have explored this idea in relation to capitalism and cultural stagnation.