Counterfactuals are hypothetical scenarios that explore what could have happened if certain events had occurred differently. They often begin with phrases like "If only" or "What if," allowing people to consider alternative outcomes. For example, one might ask, "What if Albert Einstein had never developed the theory of relativity?" This type of thinking helps in understanding causality and the impact of specific actions or decisions. In various fields, such as philosophy, history, and economics, counterfactuals are used to analyze past events and their consequences. They can help researchers and scholars evaluate the significance of certain choices and predict potential future outcomes based on different variables.