Time and the Metaphysics of Relativity: 84 (Philosophical Studies Series, 84) - Hardcover

Craig, W.L.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0792366689 ISBN 13: 9780792366683

Publisher: Springer, 2000

Synopsis

he present volume is part of a larger project, which is the attempt to draft a T coherent doctrine of divine eternity and God's relationship to time. In my God, l Time, and Eternity, I argued that whether one construes divine eternity in terms of timelessness or of omnitemporality will depend'''crucially upon one's views about the objectivity of tensed facts and temporal becoming. If one adopts a tensed, or in McTaggart's terminology, an A-Theory of time, then a coherent doctrine of divine eternity requires that one construe God, at least since the moment of creation, to exist temporally, which implies that divine timelessness can be successfully maintained only if a tenseless or B-Theory of time is correct. Accordingly in my companion volumes The Tensed Theory of Time: a Critical Examination and The Tenseless Theory of Time: a Critical Examination I set for myself. the task of 2 adjudicating the A- vs. B-Theory of time. In the former volume; r examine arguments for and against the A-Theory of time, and in the latter l' tum to an examination of arguments for and against the B-Theory. This inquiry tookme into a study of relativity theory,. its presuppositions and implications. The paucity of integrative literature dealing with the concept of. God and· relativity theory is striking.

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Review

From the reviews:

"In this book, Craig draws some important strands together regarding the concept of God and relativity theory. ... In his excellent, integrative work, Craig has superbly brought together a tensed (A-) theory of time, divine temporality, and neo-Lorentzian relativity." (Paul Copan, The Review of Metaphysics, Vol. LVI (223), 2003)

Synopsis

The larger project of which this volume forms part is an attempt to craft a coherent doctrine of divine eternity and God's relationship to time. Central to this project is the integration of the concerns of theology with the concept of time in relativity theory. Unfortunately, theologians and philosophers of religion do not in general understand Einstein's theories, whereas physicists and philosophers of science, under the influence of verificationism, have largely focused philosophical reflection on spatiotemporal concepts given by physics. There is thus a paucity of integrative literature dealing with God and relativity theory. The collapse of positivism and the rejuvenation of metaphysics have led to a renewed scrutiny of the metaphysical foundations of relativity theory and the concept(s) time found therein. This volume provides an accessible and philosophically informed examination of the concept of time in relativity, the ultimate aim being the achievement of a tenable theological synthesis.

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0792366689
• ISBN 13: 9780792366683
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 296