Abstract
According to the common sense view of time, only present things-things that exist now-are real. Past things no longer exist, and future things do not yet exist. A related common sense view is that objects persist through time by somehow 'moving' from one time to the next. This chapter outlines several problems facing this combination of views. The view that only present things exist conflicts with Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity, which is one of our best confirmed scientific theories about time. It also has difficulty accounting for the truth of a lot of what we say about the past. The common sense view of persistence has difficulty accounting for the fact that objects undergo change. A solution to all of these problems is provided by the view that the past and the future are just as real as the present. The way this view overcomes these problems is explained. The chapter concludes by addressing potential objections to this seemingly counterintuitive view and discussing its implications for how we view our lives and cope with loss, suggesting that the existence of all temporal moments can provide comfort and meaning.