A-Properties: the properties of
being past,
being present,
and
being future
B-relations: the relations of
being earlier than,
being
later than,
being simultaneous with
A-Theorists: claim that
(i) A-properties are fundamental, and the B-relations are derivative
from them,
(ii) there is an objective distinction between what is past, present,
and future,
(iii) temporal order consists in things having the A-properties,
(iv) a thing's position in the A-series is temporary
(v) this is a tensed theory of time; A-theorists are tensers.
A-theorists are often said to take tense seriously.
B-Theorists: claim that
(i) B-relations are fundamental, and the A-properties are derivative
from them,
(ii) there is not an objective difference between what is past, present,
and future; past present and future is relative to where (or when) you are,
(iii) temporal order consists in things bearing B-relations to other things,
(iv) a thing's position in the B-series is permanent.
(v) this is a tenseless theory of time; B-theorists are detensers.
Moving Spotlight View: an A-Theory that claims that all times exist,
but only the present is 'lit up', or special, in any way. Time, according
to this view, is like a row of buildings with a spotlight sweeping across
them. The present is what is lit, the future is what has yet to be lit, and
the past is what has already been lit.
Growing Block View: an A-Theory that claims that only the past and
present exist, and that only the present has nothing precedent to it. Time,
according to this view, is like a growing block, with the past getting larger
and larger, and the present at the very edge.
Presentism: an A-Theory that claims that there is no past and future,
but only the present. According to this view, the only things that exist
are things that exist
now.
Eternalism: the view that all times are equally real.
Four-Dimensionalism: the view that space-time is a multi-dimensional
object, one dimension of which is time, the others are space.
Three-Dimensionalism: denies four-dimensionalism; denies that space-time
is a muti-dimensional object.
Perdurantists (Temporal Parts Theorists): claim that ordinary
objects persist through time the way roads persist through space--by having
different (temporal) parts at different times.
Endurantists (Relationalists): objects persist through time by enduring,
and claims that objects are wholly present at each time that they exist.
*Note: most 4-Ders are Temporal Parts Theorists, and most 3-Ders are Endurantists,
but these paris of views need not be aligned (as we discussed briefly in
class).
Sources
Internet:
Time entry
in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
(SEP)
Temporal Parts
entry in the SEP
The following are on Blackboard under 'Course Documents':
Hawthorne, "Three-Dimensionalism vs. Four-Dimensionalism" in
Contemporary Debates in Metaphysics.
McTaggart, "The Unreality of Time".
Sider, "Temporal Parts" in Contemporary Debates in Metaphysics
Smart, "The Tenseless Theory of Time" in Contemporary Debates in Metaphysics.
Zimmerman, "Defending an A-Theory of Time" in Contemporary Debates in
Metaphysics.