existencewhile

Existencewhile is a neologism used in philosophy, cognitive science, and popular writing to describe the experience of ongoing existence during a defined interval of time. The term combines existence with while to emphasize that presence can be continuous even as thoughts, actions, or sensory input change.

Definition and scope: In its simplest form, existencewhile names the felt continuity of self across a period of activity, rather than a single moment or a static snapshot. Proponents use the term to discuss how people maintain a sense of being "present" while engaged in tasks, memory shifts, or coupled with change in attention. It is not a formal theory with universal acceptance; rather it serves as a heuristic for describing a common aspect of conscious life.

Origins and usage: The phrase emerged in late 20th to early 21st century informal discourse and has appeared in philosophy blogs, essays, and some qualitative studies. Because it lacks a fixed definition, its boundaries vary by author, often overlapping with discussions of phenomenology, time, and selfhood.

Relation to other concepts: Existencewhile intersects with phenomenology's focus on lived time and with Heideggerian notions of Dasein and Being-in-the-world, though without prescribing a rigorous ontological framework. It also relates to ideas of presentness, continuity of self, and flow.

Criticism: Critics label the term vague or tautological, arguing that it restates ordinary observations about attention and perception rather than offering a precise theory.

See also: phenomenology, time, presentism, consciousness, self-awareness, flow.