The
future is what will happen in the
time after the
present. Its arrival is considered 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 can be categorized as either permanent, meaning that it will exist forever, or temporary, meaning that it will end. The future and the concept of
eternity have been major subjects of
philosophy,
religion, and
science, and defining them non-controversially has consistently eluded the greatest of minds. In the
Occidental view, which uses a linear conception of time, the future is the portion of the projected time line that is anticipated to occur. In
special relativity, the future is considered
absolute future, or the future
light cone.