Time: A Philosophical Introduction

Description

Time: A Philosophical Introduction presents the philosophy of time as the central debate between being and the becoming. This core theme brings together the key topics, debates and thinkers, making ideas such as Zeno’s paradoxes, the experience of change and temporal flow and the direction and shape of time and time travel, clear and understandable. Alongside a glossary and detailed timeline to further enhance study and understanding, each chapter features: • Extensive lists of further reading in both primary and secondary sources • A chronological listing of key figures, brief biographical data and references • True/false questions, matching, multiple choice, and short answer questions Time is a central philosophical subject, impacting on all many different aspects of philosophy. More technical discussions of issues from mathematics, logic and physics are separated into Technical Interludes,allowing readers to choose their level of difficultly. As a result this comprehensive introduction is essential reading for upper-level undergraduates studying the philosophy of time,metaphysics or the philosophy of science. Title Page Copyright Page Contents List of Figures List of Historical-Biographical Notes List of Technical Asides Acknowledgments How to read this book Chapter 1 Introduction: Being and Becoming The philosophy of being The philosophy of becoming Einstein, time, and the fourth dimension The structure of the book Notes Chapter 2 Zeno’s Paradoxes and the Nature of Change Introduction: What is time? Time and change from Parmenides to Aristotle Zeno’s paradoxes: Ancient sources and modern formulations Technical interlude #1: Limits, continuity, and infinity in modern mathematics Modern responses to the paradox Conclusions and open questions Study exercise #1: Supertasks Notes Chapter 3 McTaggart’s Paradox and the Unreality of Time A-series, B-series, and the structure of time The metaphysical status of time McTaggart’s argument for the unreality of time Heraclitean arguments for A-change Technical interlude #2: Representation, semantics, and metaphysics Tensed theories of the A-series Tensed language in a tenseless world: The B-theory of time Conclusion: The metaphysics of B-time Cards on the table Notes Chapter 4 The Ontology of the Future Presentism and the meaning of existence Eternalism and the apparent incoherence of presentism Aristotle’s sea-battle and logical fatalism Alternatives to logical fatalism Conclusions Study exercise #2: Persistence Chapter 5 Flow, Change, and the Phenomenology of Time Presence, flux, and the micro-phenomenology of time The empirical psychology of time perception “Spotlight” theories of temporal consciousness and the block universe Study exercise #3: Libet’s experiments and backward referral in time Note Chapter 6 Time as a Physical Quantity Clocks and what they measure Contemporary versions of the absolute versus relational debate Special relativity and the structure of time Technical interlude #3: Minkowski space-time and the block universe Philosophical consequences of special relativity Notes Chapter 7 The Direction of Time Three classical markers of the arrow of time Problem #1: Too many arrows of time Problem #2: Not enough arrows The cosmological arrow of time Notes Chapter 8 The Shape of Time Can time have a beginning or an end? The big bang and the beginning of time The creation of the world and the structure of time Cyclical time and repeating universes Notes Chapter 9 Time Travel Introduction: Time travel in science fiction Philosophical arguments against time travel and backward causation Technical interlude #4: Causality conditions in general relativity Time travel and modern physics Philosophical consequences of the physics of CTCs Notes Chapter 10 Conclusions and Open Questions Technical Terminology Index