Time, Reality and ExperienceCraig Callender Why does time seem to flow in one direction? Can we influence the past? Is only the present real? Does relativity conflict with our common understanding of time? Could science do away with time? These questions and others about time are among the most puzzling problems in philosophy and science. In this exciting collection of original articles, eminent philosophers propose novel answers to these and other questions. Based on the latest research in philosophy and physics, these essays will be enjoyable to anyone with a speculative turn of mind. |
Contents
When Time Gets Off Track | vii |
Burburys Last Case The Mystery of the Entropic Arrow | 17 |
Zenos Arrow and the Significance of the Present | 55 |
Presentism Ontology and Temporal Experience | 71 |
A Presentists Refutation of Mellors McTaggart | 89 |
Time and Degrees of Existence A Theory of Degree Presentism | 117 |
McTaggart and the Truth about Time | 135 |
On Absolute Becoming and the Myth of Passage | 151 |
Time Travel and Modern Physics | 167 |
Freedom from the Inside Out | 199 |
On Stages Worms and Relativity | 221 |
On Becoming Cosmic Time and Rotating Universes | 251 |
How Relativity Contradicts Presentism | 275 |
Can Physics Coherently Deny the Reality of Time? | 291 |
Rememberances Mementos and TimeCapsules | 315 |
Common terms and phrases
A-series A-series change absolute becoming argue Arrow assumption asymmetry B-theory Barbour Burbury Bush is sitting Cambridge Cauchy surface causal claim classical closed timelike curves coexist constraints counterfactual Craig degrees of existence depends Descartes determinism dynamics earlier Earman entropy experience fact future tensed global stage Gödel H-Theorem HiEnt instant interaction logical low entropy matter McTaggart's argument Mellor's McTaggart metaphysics microstates Minkowski space Minkowski spacetime motion O₁ objective lapse occur one-asymmetry ontological Oxford particle particular passage past and future perspective Philosophy of Science physical possible present and future presentist Prior problem properties quantum mechanics question reality relativistic Savitt seems semantic sense sentence sentence-type simply solution space space-time spatial special relativity stage mate structure suppose t₁ temporal relations temporal-like tenseless view tenselessly theory thermodynamic things time-asymmetric tion token utterances true truth conditions truth value two-asymmetry University Press Wheeler-DeWitt equation worm