In the article, the future is viewed as an object of philosophical and sociological analysis, where the past, present and future appear as modes (from Latin modus - measure, image, mode, mode of existence or action) of time. An etymological and linguistic-semantic analysis of the concepts "future", "perspective" is carried out. The time perspective, the time setting, the time orientation are delineated. The significance of the formation of installations (dispositions) among young people for the future is substantiated. The problems and characteristics of the perspective have been identified (perspective - reality, perspective - ideal - utopia, perspective - breaking - preservation - creation, perspective - stimulus, perspective - nouveau / English now - now, today, now / concrete prospects, perspective - plan ). An empirical interpretation of the concept of "future" is carried out. Representatives of the youth of the Middle Urals on the future are generalized (based on the sociological survey "Civic Culture of Youth in the Sverdlovsk Region: Trends, Problems, Prospects" / 2016 /) [6]. Their analysis in the socio-demographic and territorial perspective is given.