A Defeating Objection to Dynamic Block Theories of Time. (28th June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee, Barry
• Is Part Of: Thought. Volume 5:Number 3(2016:Sep.)
• Page Start: 185
• Page End: 189
• Publication Date: 2016-06-28
• Subjects: time -- moving‐now block theory -- spotlight theory -- growing‐block theory -- J. E. McTaggart -- C. D. Broad -- David Lewis -- William Lane Craig; Philosophy -- Periodicals; Logic -- Periodicals; Knowledge, Theory of -- Periodicals; 105
• DOI: 10.1002/tht3.209
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2161-2234

Abstract

Abstract : McTaggart's argument against the reality of the A series (or some variation on that argument) poses a serious problem for the moving‐now block theory of time (MNBT). A defender of MNBT can respond along lines suggested by Broad: by denying that we should understand ' e was present' as saying that e is present at some past moment t . There is, however, a serious—plausibly defeating—objection to this type of response: it implicitly denies a non‐negotiable platitude about time. As a result, MNBT is not tenable. Growing block theories are also defeated by a similar objection.