I am not sure to what extent the problem which I raise fits into the philosophy of time, or as an aspect of how one lives and living wisdom. I have read Eckhart Tolle's, ' The Eternal Now' and see how both past and future collapse into the experience of the 'eternal now'. However, eternity is such a wide frame of possible changes. The awareness of the moment may involve the experience of mindfulness, especially sensory experiences and the flow of thoughts.

But I do see it as a difficult aspect of life experience, although I am aware that it may be dismissed by those who come from the academic pursuit of philosophy. In that respect, I am not sure if the linguistic concept of the 'now is to be regarded or disregarded. Nevertheless, meaning and idea are conceptualized both in time present and past, as well in the momentary aspects of thinking. So, what is the significance of the 'now' in philosophy, especially as a thinker looks back on the history of philosophy, and the future? I am not sure to what extent it is a practical experience, a psychological issue or conceptual issue in understanding. I see it as an area for contemplation but what do you think?

It sounds like putting emphasis on sensory perception rather than on thinking, or on holistic consciousness rather than analytic.

It could be seen that way, but if analytical aspects of philosophy are viewed above experience, including the sensory, philosophy could be seen as obscure and irrelevant to life.

It's just a way of describing life that works for some (possibly many if not most people, judging from it's popularity). If you're not one of them, heh, be grateful. Literally not a single philosopher mentioned on this site in 10 years was "like the rest" or "placated and satiated by the norms and mainstream beliefs of others." Am I wrong?

I don't know you, but I know of many others like you. For most people this "fear of the future" is ultimately the fear of death. Which is natural. Understandable. The hallmark of an intelligent mind well aware of one's self and place in the universe. Or is it? Try skydiving. Or even a trip to the coaster. It might open your eyes.

For many, "the here and now" is simply living an unexamined life guided by impulse and animalistic primal desire. The lowest levels of, not just human, but any living beings, experience or perception. It's important to have a balance. If you have children one day, for example. They are inexperienced and not able to understand quite literally anything but "the here and now." This in some ways makes some people's belief that the "here and now" is "all there is" a trap that they are trapped in and, whether intentionally or unintentional, only exist to trap others in. People who never grow up. People who never realize there's more to reality than what they're able to currently experience. Not unlike a person in a wheelchair, except their handicap is, not just mental, but spiritual even, Almost? Eh, just my take on the matter. Good luck in whatever it is you do.

The importance of living in the 'here and now' is one emphasised by many authors. One author, Ken Keyes, in, 'Handbook of Higher Consciousness: The Science of Happiness', states,
'If you are not enjoying every here and now moment in life, it is because your addictions (otherwise known as desires, attachments, demands, expectations, emotional programming, models of how life should treat you) are making you dwell in the dead past or the imagined future. They are keeping you from being here and now. All there is in life is the eternal now moment- and the experience of the moment is created by the programming in your head'. — Jack Cummins

Being trapped within the ‘dead’ past and imagined future are of a piece with being stuck within the punctual ‘now’. The problems you list don’t come from privileging the past or future over the immediate present, but from splitting these three dimensions of time off from each other. We can never experience a pure in-itself present. That would make all experience vanish. Imagine trying to enjoy a piece of music without thr ability to retain the prior note in mind while listening to the presently appearing note. The meaning of the music as music would disappear. Imagine reading these sentences without anticipating into the next letter and word. What we call the ‘now’ gets its sense and meaning by retaining the just past and anticipating into the future. These three dimensions all belong to the same ‘now’. It is when we treat our past, future or present in a refied and isolating way rather than as belonging to a continuous creative flow that we run the risk of reducing our experience to meaninglessness.

It could be seen that way, but if analytical aspects of philosophy are viewed above experience, including the sensory, philosophy could be seen as obscure and irrelevant to life. — Jack Cummins

I wouldn't say obscure or irrelevant, but one should do also other things in life than analytic philosophy, in order to be healthy and enjoy life.

I wonder to what extent fear of the future is fear of death. Psychoanalytic thinkers have spoken of the idea of the 'nameless dread', which may be so encompassing.It may represent the chaos which is beyond personal or human control.

Being trapped within the ‘dead’ past and imagined future are of a piece with being stuck within the punctual ‘now’. The problems you list don’t come from privileging the past or future over the immediate present, but from splitting these three dimensions of time off from each other. — Joshs

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