Philosophy Now Forum

'Commonsense' and others talk about "future reality", while I have maintained that reality occurs only in the present or has occurred in the past."Real" is defined as "occurring or existing in actuality", and "actual" as "existing or occurring at the time...

Maybe I can put this better. The future is not real because it has not yet happened. Reality occurs and begins when it happens. The future is not real because it has not yet happened. Of course I accept that the future is a valid concept of things to come, but it is not yet reality. I hope that I ha...

Wearing a seatbelt is an example of prudent behavior. In other words, acting now(reality) to avert possible danger, which might or might not occur(future). OK, but if the future isn't real why are you worried about future danger? Once again, I did not say the future is unreal. I said that the futur...

This is written to unify my statements and to add a couple of sentences. "There is a crucial division between the past and present vs. future. Reality happens or has happened- it does not exist in the future. If it has not yet happened, it is not real, other than as a concept. This is also tru...

It's true that the future doesn't exist, but our present and past moments influence which path to walk down in the now now now. Well said. I would like to revisit the question that was asked of Richard earlier. I am rephrasing the question slightly to emphasize the meaning I found in it: If you, Ri...

Atum wrote: ↑Fri Sep 13, 2019 2:23 pm It's true that the future doesn't exist, but our present and past moments influence which path to walk down in the now now now.

Sorry I didn't initially acknowledge your post, Atum. That is exactly what I am saying. Thanks.

Thanks for your thoughtful input, RCSaunders, which addresses the specific statements I made. I'll try to respond as well as my limited communication skills will allow! You ask, what do I mean by past? I mean past is reality that has happened and is now static. Only the present is dynamic. Paradoxic...

Obviously, you are not getting what I have said. Ah, well.

The future is not real YET, Skepdick.

Wearing a seatbelt is an example of prudent behavior. In other words, acting now(reality) to avert possible danger, which might or might not occur(future).

This is written to unify my statements and to add a couple of sentences. "There is a crucial division between the past and present vs. future. Reality happens or has happened- it does not exist in the future. If it has not yet happened, it is not real, other than as a concept. This is also true...

Thank you, uwot, for your informative and useful comments. Though what I am saying has similarities to 'the growing block universe theory of time', they are not identical. The growing block theory visualizes each present moment adding a thin slice of spacetime to the present, thus the growing block....

This posting was my first ever on any online forum. It comes from many years of thought. I had hoped to get some sincere specific feedback, either positive or negative. To my surprise, the only two replies did not really address my assertions, which challenged the common conception of time. So, am I...

There is a crucial division between the past and present vs. future.Reality only happens or has happened- it does not exist in the future. If it has not yet happened, it is not real, other than as a mental concept. This is also true of time. TIME ALWAYS STARTS NOW. Future time does not exist other t...