Pooley, Oliver (2013) Relativity, the Open Future, and the Passage of Time. [Preprint]

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Abstract

Is the objective passage of time compatible with relativistic physics? There are two easy routes to an affirmative answer: (1) provide a deflationary analysis of passage compatible with the block universe or (2) argue that a privileged global present is compatible with relativity. (1) does not take passage seriously. (2) does not take relativity seriously. This paper is concerned with the viability of views that seek to take both passage and relativity seriously. The investigation proceeds by considering how traditional A-theoretic conceptions of passage might be generalised to relativistic spacetimes without incorporating a privileged global present. I argue that the most promising position marries the idea that open possibilities for the future are settled as time passes with a `non-standard' interpretation of the relevant formal models.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Pooley, Oliver oliver.pooley@philosophy.ox.ac.uk
Additional Information:	The is a draft version of a Paper to be published in the Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society.
Keywords:	temporal passage, becoming, relativity, A Theory, B Theory, the open future, branching spacetimes
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory
Depositing User:	Oliver Pooley
Date Deposited:	17 Aug 2013 13:31
Last Modified:	17 Aug 2013 13:31
Item ID:	9936
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory
Date:	2013
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/9936

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