Counterfactual: A counterfactual is an imaginary scenario that explores what would have happened if historical events had taken a different course.
Butterfly effect: The butterfly effect is the idea that even small changes can lead to significant effects in complex systems, suggesting that altering one aspect of history can create ripple effects throughout time.
What-if analysis: What-if analysis involves examining how different choices or scenarios might have affected outcomes, often used for evaluating hypothetical situations.