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Taking Times Out: Tense Logic as a Theory of Time

Pashby, Thomas (2015) Taking Times Out: Tense Logic as a Theory of Time. [Preprint]

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Abstract

Ulrich Meyer's book The Nature of Time uses tense logic to argue for a `modal' view of time, which replaces substantial times (as in Newton's Absolute Time) with `ersatz times' constructed using conceptually basic tense operators. He also argues against Bertrand Russell's relationist theory, in which times are classes of events, and against the idea that relativity compels the integration of time and space (called by Meyer the Inseparability Argument). I find fault with each of these negative arguments, as well as with Meyer's purported reconstruction of empty spacetime from tense operators and substantial spatial points. I suggest that Meyer's positive project is best conceived as an elimination of time in the mode of Julian Barbour's The End of Time.

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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Pashby, Thomastom.pashby@gmail.com
Keywords: Nature of Time, Meyer, tense logic, ersatz times, relationism, Russell, Barbour, time, temporal, elimination, Godel spacetime
Subjects: General Issues > Philosophers of Science
Specific Sciences > Physics
Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory
Depositing User: Dr. Thomas Pashby
Date Deposited: 21 Feb 2015 22:25
Last Modified: 03 Mar 2015 15:40
Item ID: 11335
Subjects: General Issues > Philosophers of Science
Specific Sciences > Physics
Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory
Date: February 2015
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/11335

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