Humanities desk
< January 19	<< Dec \| January \| Feb >>	January 21 >

Welcome to the Wikipedia Humanities Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is a transcluded archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

January 20[edit]

Being Present[edit]

I searched wikipedia for "living in the present" and "being present" hoping for a link or two describing the state of mind or what it means to be an individual who is present or living in the present. There really wasn't much in wiki's pantheon of knowledge that addresses the question.

I could start a page but feel it may be too broad of a subject. Perhaps "being in the present" is subjective and beyond a single definition.

Any pointers to wiki articles are helpful.

Many Thanks! Wptyree (talk) 08:23, 20 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Do you mean Mindfulness?--Shantavira|^{feed me} 09:18, 20 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

The article specious present seems pertinent, but rather brief and vague. But so is the question... --Wrongfilter (talk) 09:55, 20 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

There is a medical condition, Anterograde amnesia, which is the inability to form new memories. In severe cases like Henry Molaison, a person is literally constantly in the present. 70.67.193.176 (talk) 16:58, 20 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

A commonly used phrase is "living in the (present) moment", which AFAIK refers to the same state of mind as "mindfulness" mentioned above by Shantavira, "purposely bringing one's attention in the present moment". While the article on that pop-psychology term does not refer to it, the practice can be seen as developing one's ability to exercise attentional control so as not to be distracted by all kinds of trivial trains of thought. Mindfulness is a bit of a luxury; it requires a safe environment in which there is no need to pay attention to potential threats, and if one's major concern is to find enough food to survive another day, little room will be left for devoting attention to anything else. Total immersion in a task, being fully concentrated, is naturally achieved (in the absence of annoying distractions that cannot be eliminated) when the task execution itself is perceived as giving satisfaction. --Lambiam 17:09, 20 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Be Here Now (book) may be of some interest. Cullen328 (talk) 17:17, 24 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]