What is Future: Definition and 784 Discussions

The future is the time after the present. Its arrival is considered inevitable due to the existence of time and the laws of physics. Due to the apparent nature of reality and the unavoidability of the future, everything that currently exists and will exist can be categorized as either permanent, meaning that it will exist forever, or temporary, meaning that it will end. In the Occidental view, which uses a linear conception of time, the future is the portion of the projected timeline that is anticipated to occur. In special relativity, the future is considered absolute future, or the future light cone.In the philosophy of time, presentism is the belief that only the present exists and the future and the past are unreal. Religions consider the future when they address issues such as karma, life after death, and eschatologies that study what the end of time and the end of the world will be. Religious figures such as prophets and diviners have claimed to see into the future.
Future studies, or futurology, is the science, art, and practice of postulating possible futures. Modern practitioners stress the importance of alternative and plural futures, rather than one monolithic future, and the limitations of prediction and probability, versus the creation of possible and preferable futures. Predeterminism is the belief that the past, present, and future have been already decided.
The concept of the future has been explored extensively in cultural production, including art movements and genres devoted entirely to its elucidation, such as the 20th-century movement futurism.

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  1. marcus

    SciAm special report on Future of Physics

    I hear that February 2008 issue of SciAm contains a special report. Peter Woit has some comment. I'm gradually finding the links to it, piecemeal. If anyone finds links to some other main articles in the report "The Future of Physics" please share them with us. Or, if you want, give us some...
  2. H

    Fantastic Future: 1940s Vision of the Future

    Fantastic future! I found this video upon stumbling around on the net. It features a vision of the future. The video seems to be made in the 1940/1950ties. Do anybody have more information on the video? Are there more videos in the same category? It is remarkably that they actually hit...
  3. baywax

    Proving the Existence of a Future

    We have a certain amount of proof that the past happened. We have fossils, architecture, artifacts, culturally modified trees - caves and earth. But strangely enough we don't have any evidence that there is a future. There are certainly indications that there is a future. We have predictions...
  4. G

    Future Physics Student: Can I Compete?

    He guys. I am a 28 year old student. I spent several years in the Army and I am just finishing a AS degree in Respiratory therapy. My question is ever since I was a little kid I was amazed by Physics. Upon my decision to attend USF to work toward a BS in Applied physics I realized I have...
  5. Cyrus

    Communication 101 -A must read for future professionals.

    I had to do a senior design project this semester to fulfill my requirements for graduation. We were working with a corporate sponsor who shall remain nameless. The sponsor was a very nice guy, and a very smart guy (PhD at MIT). We had team meetings with him every week to go over our progress...
  6. A

    Conception of time in past, present and future

    say if there is some kind of being like god, then when is its present? since it existed from the start and will last forever if god travels to the future or past, would he be able to meet himself, and would they share the same mind or will they think for themselves?
  7. Holocene

    The Future of Humanity: Evolution's Impact

    If evolution is correct, might we be fairly certain than in many thousands of years, the new "intelligent species" on Earth will be an entirely different species, and humans will have long since gone extict?
  8. T

    Future construction - a theoretical estimate?

    Suppose we had the technology to produce artificial diamond beams and carbon nanotube rope cheaply enough to use in large quantities. If we use the diamond for compressive load, and the CNT ropes for tensile load, how tall a skyscraper could we build using these materials, in theory? Is there...
  9. H

    Can a civilization truly last forever?

    Hey, sorry I've been asking these hypothetical questions about future advanced civilizations, but I have another question. It's a bit nebulous, and I apologize for that. Can a civilization last forever? And I mean truly forever. Or would something happen, sooner or later, to wipe it out...
  10. R

    How devestating to my future career is a C in my GPA?

    I have a 4.0 so far but and flew through Diff EQ, Calc 1-3 with no problemo. However, Linear Algebra is kicking my butt. I'm borderline B/C in the class. If I make this one C and make and make A's and B's the rest of the way, will it hurt me career wise? I'm a Comp. Engineering major.
  11. C

    Can I Predict the Lottery Draw Without Affecting the Universe's Wavefunction?

    If A is the observable corresponding to observing the lottery draw, how can I measure the operator A\left(t\right)=\exp\left(i H t/\hbar\right)A\exp\left(-i H t/\hbar\right) :smile: And how to make sure that I can act on the observation of next week lottery draw by submitting the...
  12. R

    It all began with an end - New theory on origin and future of the universe

    The universe’s clock has neither a start nor finish, yet time is finite according to a New Zealand theorist. The theory, which tackles the age-old mystery of the origin of the universe, along with several other problems and paradoxes in cosmology, calls for a new take on our concept of time –...
  13. G

    Possible to exist again in the future?

    I just remembered an idea that was presented in one of my math textbooks when I was an undergrad. The basic idea was that if you consider every single atom in the universe, the number of atoms is certainly beyond what the human mind could comprehend, however, the number of those atoms is still...
  14. H

    Future of life in the universe

    I have a question regarding the future of civilization in the universe. As we all know, the universe is expanding and, as per the 2nd law of thermodynamics, entropy is increasing. However, could a future civilization find a way to harness used energy (ie heat dissipated from resistors)? Also...
  15. G

    Robotic Technology: The Future is Now!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-htzy0xZpo&mode=related&search= I think its almost creepy how realistic this thing is. I can't even imagine how advanced technology like this will become in the next decade. Pretty crazy.
  16. Z

    Confused About My Future Career: Texas A&M Student

    HI I am hesitating now about CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, since it has so many applications, NUCLEAR , beacuse I am kind of interested in it, and maybe it will be HUGE in about 10 years or so, when there is no oil :D and PETROLEUM , because it has the highest salaries! WHAT TO CHOOSE? I am at...
  17. P

    Was Mars the Earth of the past and Venus the Earth of the future?

    I am not a student of astronomy or physics, or any sciences for that matter. But I do have some things I wish to ask the scientific community here in the hopes of better understanding all of your viewpoints as to the title of this topic. First question: a. Assume that Earth is about to face a...
  18. J

    Philosophy homework - need to support predefined future

    hey To a lot of us it sounds evident that the future is predefined, that we know the future will only be one way, even through we cannot really predict how it would be (infinitely long equations, ect, an infinity of variables). Ok, its logic , but i need to find clear arguments to support that...
  19. I

    Is Theory or Math the Right Path for My Future in Physics?

    so now I'm at university and taking my first real physics undergrad classes: intermediate lab and optics and guess what, i dislike em both! this past summer i also did two internships, one in experiment and one in theory. the experiment one was admittedly very dinky; it was at a engineering...
  20. R

    Future in Physics? How to Change Majors

    I am entering my senior year of college as a computer science major, but have recently made the realization that my passion is physics more specifically astrophysics. I have not a clue how to proceed from this point, if I change my major now it would be equivalent to losing 3 years of work, and...
  21. C

    Confused and concerned about present and future

    I need advice. If I could PM someone whose wise and knows a thing or two about life, please let me know. I probably need a shrink.
  22. M

    UFO-Inspired Future Spacecraft: Faster Than Mach 4?

    Hi don't know if I am in the right area but i have a random question about future spacecraft and the speed they travel. the rumor of ufo's are known the be a flat sphere shape, why don't the people who design the future jets try designing the shape a little bit like a ufo instead of make the...
  23. Z

    Pondering My Future: Math or Computer Science?

    I'm a 4th year physics student, I'm in a European Credit System ( Finishing my M1 degree ). Wishing to continue my studies in Subatomic-Particle Physics, for some complex reason ( will take time to explain ) I have to stop one year before continuing my studies in physics ( to get my M2 degree...
  24. B

    Is the Greenhouse Effect Driving Global Warming?

    Oh no, not another global warming thread! But seriously, I read that CO2 accounts for ~20% of the greenhouse effect on Earth, we are undoubtedly raising the amount of this (and other) greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The greenhouse effect is very important in determining the lower...
  25. S

    Top 5 High-Paying Future Jobs: Biotech & Beyond

    What top 5 future jobs do you think are going to rack in the money in the next 5 to 10 years? I'm guessing Biotechnology at top 3, and some type of computer job for the next 2.
  26. B

    Pursuing MSc in Physics After BSc | Career Alternatives

    hi..i want to do MSc in physics and have just finished my Bsc in the same.. i wrote JEST N IIT but did nt clear either.. say if i don't get anywhere this year . would cld i do.?cld u pls help me with some alternatives.
  27. marcus

    Nice thumbnail sketch of Earth's future by John Baez

    http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/week252.html includes a concise timeline of the solar system future ===quote Baez=== * In 1.1 billion years the Sun will become 10% brighter than now, and the Earth's atmosphere will dry out. * In 3 billion years the Andromeda Galaxy will collide with our...
  28. S

    See the Future: Optical Concept in Paycheck Movie

    Hello guys I'm just wondering about an optical concept in a fictional movie I've watched. In the movie, there was a machine invented to be able to see someone’s future. The optical concept about this machine is the power of lenses which enable the user to view the light that came from here, on...
  29. B

    Cosmic Humility: Trillions of Years into the Future

    Hi. I would like to discuss this: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070524094126.htm "Now, physicists Lawrence Krauss from Case Western Reserve University and Robert J. Scherrer from Vanderbilt University predict that trillions of years into the future, the information that...
  30. H

    Simulating the Future: Great Attractor 100 Billion Years Ahead

    I looked briefly at the thread herein regarding "Simulating the universe" but it did not appear to involve the future -- just evaluating validity of different theories leading to present. Has anyone run any simulation into the future, say 100 billion years? To see for example what...
  31. B

    Feeling the Future: Interesting Article

    Just thought some people here would be interested in this article... http://www.smellybean.com/link.jsp?UniqNumber=3891
  32. marcus

    Details on the galaxy crash in our future

    Abraham Loeb is one of the top people in his profession. Interesting that he should be using computer sims to study something very close to home like this. http://arxiv.org/abs/0705.1170 The Collision Between The Milky Way And Andromeda T.J. Cox, Abraham Loeb (Harvard/CfA) submitted to...
  33. S

    Spacetime, the Universe, the Present and the Future

    At http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spacetime#Historical_origin I read the following quote: Wouldn't this imply that the universe (respectively spacetime) is actually static and that the present doesn't really exist except for our consciousness? And wouldn't this also imply that in such a...
  34. Andrew Mason

    Planning future use of nuclear waste

    Given that almost all of the fuel waste from LWRs is potentially useable with future fast breeder reactor technology with periodic reprocessing, rather than planning to dispose of this waste we should instead be storing it for future use. The goal should be to design reactors today to produce...
  35. D

    News The future role of mercinaries

    sorry for stealing the video link/topic cromagnum, but its a vary interesting topic and yours got locked :frown: "blackwater USA has become one of the most powerful private actors in the so called war on terror. it provides the bush administration with an extraordinary amount of political...
  36. z-component

    My Teeth and Gums Hurt - A Trip to the Dentist is in my Future

    My teeth hurt. And yes, I do brush them, and I'd like to say I spend a good amount of time doing so. I guess what I mean to say is my gums hurt since my teeth don't actually feel things. I'm going to visit the dentist next week... :yuck:
  37. Loren Booda

    Undetermined future, certain past?

    If the future is undetermined (unobserved), would the past be certain (observable)?
  38. H

    Options for Future? UBC Student with 52% GPA

    Hello, I am a third year physics student (at UBC in Canada) and I am wondering what are my options for the future. My second year average was something like 52% (I was mildly depressed at the time) and have boosted my grades over the year to just under 80%. I am looking to start getting some...
  39. O

    Is there a future in nonlinear optics?

    I don't know much about nonlinear optics, but does doing a PhD in this field give you a chance in landing a job in the industry afterwards? i.e what does the job market look like? I always kinda thought that nonlinear optics was a very mature field and hence the opportunity to do exciting...
  40. larkspur

    Future Eyeglass Lenses: Switchable Focus!

    http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/liquidcrystal-switchable-focus-eyeglass-lenses-167757.php" would be so cool!
  41. J

    Mechanical Engineering & Renewable Energy: A Future in Solar Power?

    I am a 3rd year mechanical engineering major currently working in an internship for a power company. My company recently sold off their wind and hydro generating plants because they could not compete with the coal plants. We now have only coal and gas/oil plants. I know that I could continue...
  42. Ivan Seeking

    History The History & Future of Sex: Marty Klein, Ph.D - SexEd.org

    http://www.ejhs.org/volume2/history.htm
  43. K

    Predicting the future value using the past value

    Let us assume that a body is to travel from point A to point E, with B, C, D being intermediate points. The points between A and E are equally spaced apart by a distance of 10 km. The body is SUPPOSED to travel AB, BC, CD, DE with speeds of 10 kmph, 20 kmph, 30 kmph, 40 kmph...
  44. G

    Where Can I Find Dates and Locations of Future Solar Eclipses?

    can someone please point me to a cite that states the dates and locations of future solar eclipses. thx
  45. daniel_i_l

    The Future of GR: Is Time Already Set?

    the "future" in GR In GR, is all of time already contained in ST and we're just moving through it? this seems to be the only way to explain the fact that for different observers time passes at different speeds. is this correct? (this isn't a philisofic question)
  46. B

    Anyone know the future uses of x rays within a hospital?

    Anyone know the future uses of x rays within a hospital? or what the future adaptations are to make it less harmful etc? help! xx
  47. F

    Future of weapons will look like

    Hey yall, just wondering what the future of weapons will look like. I was thinking a lot of emp type stuff and wanted to know what a defense is to emp. What kind of bombs will they use, what kind of ground weapons? Will they use biological weapons, what will be the tactics like how will they win...
  48. R

    Deciding My Future: 17-Year-Old's Dilemma

    This is my last year in school (17 years old), so i was deciding my future with my dad and we fighted about my career when i told him that i want to study physics, and he sayd that you can't cause you will not earn money, and stuff like that. So he impose that i must study administration, lol...
  49. Astronuc

    News Future Shock - Decreased Grain Supply, Increased Cost

    I heard recently that Wheat (grain) production decreased due to drought in Australia and other areas, e.g. midwest US. Several countries have curtailed or reduced export and in some cases are now importing. At the same time, the cost of production has increased, in part due to increased energy...
  50. L

    Were can i find list of subject that i can study in future?

    i don noe were 2 find the webside o place that i can find out the list of the subject or faculties which i can study in the future??nw i am taking the subject of physics, mathematics, and chemistry..can anybody suggest wat subject is suitable for me??
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