Specious present

The specious present is the time duration wherein one's perceptions are considered to be in the present. This term was first used by psychologist E. R. Clay and the concept was further developed by Harvard professor of philosophy William James. James defined the specious present to be "the prototype of all conceived times... the short duration of which we are immediately and incessantly sensible".

C. D. Broad in "Scientific Thought" (1930) further elaborated on the concept of the specious present, and considered that the Specious Present may be considered as the temporal equivalent of a sensory datum.