Future
In a linear conception of time, the future is the portion of the timeline that is still to occur, i.e. the place in space-time where lie all events that still have not occurred. In this sense the future is opposed to the past[?] (the set of moments and events that have already occurred before) and the present[?] (the set of events that are occurring now).
The meaning of the future to mankind
The future always had a very special place in philosophy and, in general, in the human mind because a huge part of human life needs at least a forecast of events[?] that are to occur. It is perhaps possible to argue that the evolution of the human brain is in great part an evolution in cognitive abilities necessary to forecast the future[?], i.e. abstract imagination, logic and induction. Imagination permits us to “see” a plausible model of a given situation without effectively observing it in practice (therefore mitigating risks). Logical reasoning allows one to predict inevitable consequences of actions and situations, and therefore gives useful information about future events. Induction permits the association of a cause with consequences, a fundamental notion[?] for every forecast of future time. Such abilities in getting at least glimpses about what is going to happen probably were tremendous forces in the evolution of mankind.Despite these cognitive instruments for the comprehension of future, the stochastic nature of many natural and social processes made of the forecasting of future a long-sought aim for people of almost all historic ages and cultures. Figures pretending to see the future , like a prophet or a diviner enjoyed great consideration and even social importance in many past[?] and even present[?] communities. Whole pseudo-sciences, like astrology or cheiromancy originated with the aim of forecasting futures. Much of physical science too can be read as an attempt to make quantitative and objective predictions about events.
The Future also forms a prominent subject for religion. Often religions offer prophecies about life after death and also about the end of the world. The conflict in Christian religion between the knowledge of the future by God and the freedom of human will led, for example, to the doctrine of predestination.
See also futurology, astrology, time, weather forecasting.
A future is generic name for a contract dependent on exchange of money, goods or services at a future point in time. See futures contract.
That follow'd from Velinum's dewy land,
And mountaineers, that from Severus came,
And those where yellow Tiber takes his way,
Casperia sends her arms, with those that lie
The warlike aids of Horta next appear,
Mix'd with the natives born of Latine blood,
Not thicker billows beat the Libyan main,
Nor thicker harvests on rich Hermus rise,
Than stand these troops: their bucklers ring.html">ring around;
A foe by birth to Troy's unhappy name:
A thousand men the youthful hero led,
And fierce Auruncans from their hilly ground,
And where with shoaly fords Vulturnus roars,
And rough Saticulans, inur'd to wants:
Fasten'd with leathern thongs, to gall the foe.
And on their warding arm light bucklers bear.
Nor Oebalus, shalt thou be left unsung,
Who then in Teleboan Capri reign'd;
And o'er Campania stretch'd his ample sway,
O'er Batulum, and where Abella sees,
And these (as was the Teuton use of old)
Sling weighty stones, when from afar they fight;
And led the mountain troops that Nursia sent.
Hunting their sport, and plund'ring was their trade.
Their soil was barren, and their hearts were hard.
Umbro the priest the proud Marrubians led,
And peaceful olives crown'd his hoary head.
And venom'd wounds of serpents could assuage.
Their temples, shut their eyes in pleasing sleep.
To cure the wound giv'n by the Dardan dart:
In sighs remurmur'd to the Fucine floods.
The son of fam'd Hippolytus was there,
Whom in Egerian groves Aricia bore,
Where great Diana's peaceful altars flame,
Hippolytus, as old records have said,
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