The Tenseless Theory of Time: A Critical Examination: 294 (Synthese Library, 294) - Hardcover

Craig, W.L.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0792366352 ISBN 13: 9780792366355

Publisher: Springer, 2000

Synopsis

he present book and its companion volume The Tensed Theory of Time: a T Critical Examination are an attempt to adjudicate what one recent discussant has called "the most fundamental question in the philosophy of time," namely, "whether a static or a dynamic conception ofthe world is correct. "] I had originally intended to treat this question in the space of a single volume; but the study swelled into two. I found that an adequate appraisal of these two competing theories of time requires a wide-ranging discussion of issues in metaphysics, philosophy of language, phenomenology, philosophy of science, philosophy of space and time, and even philosophy of religion, and that this simply could not be done in one volume. If these volumes succeed in making a contribution to the debate, it will be precisely because of the synoptic nature of the discussion therein. Too often the question of the nature of time has been prematurely answered by some philosopher or physicist simply because he is largely ignorant of relevant discussions outside his chosen field of expertise. In these two complementary but independent volumes I have attempted to appraise what I take to be the most important arguments drawn from a variety of fields for and against each theory of time.

About this title

Synopsis

The central question in the philosophy of time is whether time is tensed or tenseless, viz., whether the moments of time are objectively past, present or future, or whether they are ordered merely by the tenseless temporal relations earlier than, simultaneous with, and later than. In this book and the companion volume "The Tensed Theory of Time: A Critical Examination", Craig undertakes the first thorough appraisal of the arguments for and against the tensed and tenseless theories of time. The discussions range widely over issues in the philosophy of language, phenomenology, relativity theory, philosophy of space and time, metaphysics, and philosophy of religion."The Tenseless Theory of Time" sets out to discover whether the ineliminability of tense from language and our experience of tense warrants a belief in its objective ontological status, or whether the defeaters raised by McTaggart's paradox and the 'Myth of Passage' serve to undermine any warrant that the tensed theory of time may be supposed to enjoy.

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0792366352
• ISBN 13: 9780792366355
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 272