Time, Tense, and Causation

Time, Tense, and Causation

Author: Michael Tooley

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 1997

Total Pages: 426

ISBN-13: 9780198235798

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Michael Tooley presents a major new philosophical study of time and its relation to causation. The nature of time has always been one of the most fascinating and perplexing problems of philosophy; it has in recent years become the focus of vigorous debate between advocates of rival theories.The traditional, `tensed' accounts of time which hold that time has a direction and that the flow of time is part of the nature of the universe have been challenged by `tenseless' accounts of time, according to which past, present, and future are merely subjective features of experience, rather thanobjective features of events. Time, Tense and Causation offers a new approach, in many ways intermediate between these two rivals. Tooley shares with tensed approaches the views that the universe if dynamic, and that the past and present are real while the future is not; but he rejects the viewthat this points to the existence of irreducible tensed facts. Tooley's approach accounts for time in terms of its relation to causation; he argues that the direction of time is based upon the direction of causation, and that the key to understanding the dynamic nature of the universe is tounderstand the nature of causation. He analyses tensed concepts, and discusses semantic issues about truth and time, Finally, addressing the formidable difficulties posed for tensed accounts of time by the Special Theory of Relativity, he suggests that a modified version of the theory, compatiblewith the account of time in this book, is to be preferred to the standard version. Time, Tense, and Causation is rich in sophisticated and stimulating discussions of many of the deepest problems of metaphysics. It will be essentail reading for anyone specialising in this area of philosophy.


Book Synopsis Time, Tense, and Causation by : Michael Tooley

Download or read book Time, Tense, and Causation written by Michael Tooley and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 1997 with total page 426 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Michael Tooley presents a major new philosophical study of time and its relation to causation. The nature of time has always been one of the most fascinating and perplexing problems of philosophy; it has in recent years become the focus of vigorous debate between advocates of rival theories.The traditional, `tensed' accounts of time which hold that time has a direction and that the flow of time is part of the nature of the universe have been challenged by `tenseless' accounts of time, according to which past, present, and future are merely subjective features of experience, rather thanobjective features of events. Time, Tense and Causation offers a new approach, in many ways intermediate between these two rivals. Tooley shares with tensed approaches the views that the universe if dynamic, and that the past and present are real while the future is not; but he rejects the viewthat this points to the existence of irreducible tensed facts. Tooley's approach accounts for time in terms of its relation to causation; he argues that the direction of time is based upon the direction of causation, and that the key to understanding the dynamic nature of the universe is tounderstand the nature of causation. He analyses tensed concepts, and discusses semantic issues about truth and time, Finally, addressing the formidable difficulties posed for tensed accounts of time by the Special Theory of Relativity, he suggests that a modified version of the theory, compatiblewith the account of time in this book, is to be preferred to the standard version. Time, Tense, and Causation is rich in sophisticated and stimulating discussions of many of the deepest problems of metaphysics. It will be essentail reading for anyone specialising in this area of philosophy.


Change, Cause and Contradiction

Change, Cause and Contradiction

Author: Robin Le

Publisher: Springer

Published: 1990-11-23

Total Pages: 170

ISBN-13: 134921146X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK


Book Synopsis Change, Cause and Contradiction by : Robin Le

Download or read book Change, Cause and Contradiction written by Robin Le and published by Springer. This book was released on 1990-11-23 with total page 170 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:


Time, Tense, and Reference

Time, Tense, and Reference

Author: Aleksandar Jokic

Publisher: MIT Press

Published: 2003-09-12

Total Pages: 481

ISBN-13: 0262263246

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Among the many branches of philosophy, the philosophy of time and the philosophy of language are more intimately interconnected than most, yet their practitioners have long pursued independent paths. This book helps to bridge the gap between the two groups. As it makes clear, it is increasingly difficult to do philosophy of language without any metaphysical commitments as to the nature of time, and it is equally difficult to resolve the metaphysical question of whether time is tensed or tenseless independently of the philosophy of language. Indeed, one is tempted to see philosophy of language and metaphysics as a continuum with no sharp boundary. The essays, which were written expressly for this book by leading philosophers of language and philosophers of time, discuss the philosophy of language and its implications for the philosophy of time and vice versa. The intention is not only to further dialogue between philosophers of language and of time but also to present new theories to advance the state of knowledge in the two fields. The essays are organized in two sections—one on the philosophy of tensed language, the other on the metaphysics of time.


Book Synopsis Time, Tense, and Reference by : Aleksandar Jokic

Download or read book Time, Tense, and Reference written by Aleksandar Jokic and published by MIT Press. This book was released on 2003-09-12 with total page 481 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Among the many branches of philosophy, the philosophy of time and the philosophy of language are more intimately interconnected than most, yet their practitioners have long pursued independent paths. This book helps to bridge the gap between the two groups. As it makes clear, it is increasingly difficult to do philosophy of language without any metaphysical commitments as to the nature of time, and it is equally difficult to resolve the metaphysical question of whether time is tensed or tenseless independently of the philosophy of language. Indeed, one is tempted to see philosophy of language and metaphysics as a continuum with no sharp boundary. The essays, which were written expressly for this book by leading philosophers of language and philosophers of time, discuss the philosophy of language and its implications for the philosophy of time and vice versa. The intention is not only to further dialogue between philosophers of language and of time but also to present new theories to advance the state of knowledge in the two fields. The essays are organized in two sections—one on the philosophy of tensed language, the other on the metaphysics of time.


Time and Causation

Time and Causation

Author: Michael Tooley

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 1999

Total Pages: 408

ISBN-13: 9780815330653

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

First published in 1999. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.


Book Synopsis Time and Causation by : Michael Tooley

Download or read book Time and Causation written by Michael Tooley and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 1999 with total page 408 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: First published in 1999. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.


The Ontology of Time

The Ontology of Time

Author: L. Nathan Oaklander

Publisher: Prometheus Books

Published: 2013-05-24

Total Pages: 366

ISBN-13: 1615923217

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Studies in Analytic PhilosophySeries Editor: Quentin Smith, Western Michigan UniversityL. Nathan Oaklander is one of the leading philosophers of time defending the tenseless or B-Theory of time. He has remained at the forefront of this field since the early 1980s and today he is arguably the most formidable opponent of the tensed or A-theory of time. Much of the direction of the debate in this field for the past twenty years or so, especially in regards to the new tenseless theory of time, has been influenced by Oaklander's work. This book presents a carefully argued defense of the tenseless theory of time.The topics discussed include: the ontology of A- and B-theories of time; presentism; the open future theory; the A/B theory; defending the B-theory of time; temporal experience; temporal semantics; and time, identity, responsibility, and freedom.L. Nathan Oaklander (Flint, MI) is professor of philosophy and chair of the Department of Philosophy at the University of Michigan, Flint. He is the author or editor of numerous books on philosophy and the problem of time, including Time, Change and Freedom and The Importance of Time.


Book Synopsis The Ontology of Time by : L. Nathan Oaklander

Download or read book The Ontology of Time written by L. Nathan Oaklander and published by Prometheus Books. This book was released on 2013-05-24 with total page 366 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Studies in Analytic PhilosophySeries Editor: Quentin Smith, Western Michigan UniversityL. Nathan Oaklander is one of the leading philosophers of time defending the tenseless or B-Theory of time. He has remained at the forefront of this field since the early 1980s and today he is arguably the most formidable opponent of the tensed or A-theory of time. Much of the direction of the debate in this field for the past twenty years or so, especially in regards to the new tenseless theory of time, has been influenced by Oaklander's work. This book presents a carefully argued defense of the tenseless theory of time.The topics discussed include: the ontology of A- and B-theories of time; presentism; the open future theory; the A/B theory; defending the B-theory of time; temporal experience; temporal semantics; and time, identity, responsibility, and freedom.L. Nathan Oaklander (Flint, MI) is professor of philosophy and chair of the Department of Philosophy at the University of Michigan, Flint. He is the author or editor of numerous books on philosophy and the problem of time, including Time, Change and Freedom and The Importance of Time.


Change, Cause, and Contradiction

Change, Cause, and Contradiction

Author: Robin Le Poidevin

Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

Published: 1991-01-01

Total Pages: 160

ISBN-13: 9780312057862

DOWNLOAD EBOOK


Book Synopsis Change, Cause, and Contradiction by : Robin Le Poidevin

Download or read book Change, Cause, and Contradiction written by Robin Le Poidevin and published by Palgrave Macmillan. This book was released on 1991-01-01 with total page 160 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:


The Importance of Time

The Importance of Time

Author: L.N. Oaklander

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2013-03-09

Total Pages: 320

ISBN-13: 9401733627

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The Philosophy of Time Society grew out of a National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Seminar on the Philosophy of Time offered by George Schlesinger in 1991. The members of that seminar wanted to promote interest in the philosophy of time and Jon N. Turgerson offered to become the first Director of the society with the initial costs underwritten by the Drake University Center for the Humanities. Thus, the Philosophy of Time Society (PTS) was formed in 1993. Its goal is to promote the study of the philosophy of time from a broad analytic perspective, and to provide a forum as an affiliated group with the American Philosophical Association, to discuss the issues in and related to the philosophy of time. The society held its first meeting during the Eastern Division of the AP A in Atlanta, George, in December 1993. In 1997 I began my tenure as Executive Director of PTS and with my term ending in 2000, I decided to put together a volume of selected papers read at PTS meetings over the years. The result is the present volume. It contains some of the latest developments in the field, including discussions of recent books by Michael Tooley, Time, Tense, and Causation, and D. H. Mellor, Real Time II, and much more. The main issue in the philosophy of time is and remains the status of temporal becoming and the passage of time.


Book Synopsis The Importance of Time by : L.N. Oaklander

Download or read book The Importance of Time written by L.N. Oaklander and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-03-09 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Philosophy of Time Society grew out of a National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Seminar on the Philosophy of Time offered by George Schlesinger in 1991. The members of that seminar wanted to promote interest in the philosophy of time and Jon N. Turgerson offered to become the first Director of the society with the initial costs underwritten by the Drake University Center for the Humanities. Thus, the Philosophy of Time Society (PTS) was formed in 1993. Its goal is to promote the study of the philosophy of time from a broad analytic perspective, and to provide a forum as an affiliated group with the American Philosophical Association, to discuss the issues in and related to the philosophy of time. The society held its first meeting during the Eastern Division of the AP A in Atlanta, George, in December 1993. In 1997 I began my tenure as Executive Director of PTS and with my term ending in 2000, I decided to put together a volume of selected papers read at PTS meetings over the years. The result is the present volume. It contains some of the latest developments in the field, including discussions of recent books by Michael Tooley, Time, Tense, and Causation, and D. H. Mellor, Real Time II, and much more. The main issue in the philosophy of time is and remains the status of temporal becoming and the passage of time.


Time, Eternity, and the Trinity

Time, Eternity, and the Trinity

Author: Eunsoo Kim

Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published: 2010-03-01

Total Pages: 376

ISBN-13: 1606089684

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

One of the vital issues in contemporary Christian theology is the problem of a renewed understanding of God's eternity and its relation to time. This is not merely a peripheral doctrinal issue, but lies at the heart of our understanding of God and humanity, and contributes to our entire worldview. This study focuses on a long-standing debate between two competing views on God's eternity: one focused on God's absolute timelessness in classical theism, and the other on God's temporal everlastingness in contemporary panentheism. In contrast to both of these well-worn options, this book presents an alternative Trinitarian analogical understanding of God's eternity and its relation to time, especially through a critical reflection on Karl Barth's and Hans Urs von Balthasar's engagement of the issue. This analogical approach, based on the dynamic and dramatic concepts of God's being-in-relation and of the Triune God's communicative action in eternity and time, has the potential to resolve the debate between absolute timeless eternity and temporal everlasting duration.


Book Synopsis Time, Eternity, and the Trinity by : Eunsoo Kim

Download or read book Time, Eternity, and the Trinity written by Eunsoo Kim and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2010-03-01 with total page 376 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: One of the vital issues in contemporary Christian theology is the problem of a renewed understanding of God's eternity and its relation to time. This is not merely a peripheral doctrinal issue, but lies at the heart of our understanding of God and humanity, and contributes to our entire worldview. This study focuses on a long-standing debate between two competing views on God's eternity: one focused on God's absolute timelessness in classical theism, and the other on God's temporal everlastingness in contemporary panentheism. In contrast to both of these well-worn options, this book presents an alternative Trinitarian analogical understanding of God's eternity and its relation to time, especially through a critical reflection on Karl Barth's and Hans Urs von Balthasar's engagement of the issue. This analogical approach, based on the dynamic and dramatic concepts of God's being-in-relation and of the Triune God's communicative action in eternity and time, has the potential to resolve the debate between absolute timeless eternity and temporal everlasting duration.


Time and Causality across the Sciences

Time and Causality across the Sciences

Author: Samantha Kleinberg

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2019-09-26

Total Pages: 273

ISBN-13: 1108756018

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This book, geared toward academic researchers and graduate students, brings together research on all facets of how time and causality relate across the sciences. Time is fundamental to how we perceive and reason about causes. It lets us immediately rule out the sound of a car crash as its cause. That a cause happens before its effect has been a core, and often unquestioned, part of how we describe causality. Research across disciplines shows that the relationship is much more complex than that. This book explores what that means for both the metaphysics and epistemology of causes - what they are and how we can find them. Across psychology, biology, and the social sciences, common themes emerge, suggesting that time plays a critical role in our understanding. The increasing availability of large time series datasets allows us to ask new questions about causality, necessitating new methods for modeling dynamic systems and incorporating mechanistic information into causal models.


Book Synopsis Time and Causality across the Sciences by : Samantha Kleinberg

Download or read book Time and Causality across the Sciences written by Samantha Kleinberg and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2019-09-26 with total page 273 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book, geared toward academic researchers and graduate students, brings together research on all facets of how time and causality relate across the sciences. Time is fundamental to how we perceive and reason about causes. It lets us immediately rule out the sound of a car crash as its cause. That a cause happens before its effect has been a core, and often unquestioned, part of how we describe causality. Research across disciplines shows that the relationship is much more complex than that. This book explores what that means for both the metaphysics and epistemology of causes - what they are and how we can find them. Across psychology, biology, and the social sciences, common themes emerge, suggesting that time plays a critical role in our understanding. The increasing availability of large time series datasets allows us to ask new questions about causality, necessitating new methods for modeling dynamic systems and incorporating mechanistic information into causal models.


The Tenseless Theory of Time

The Tenseless Theory of Time

Author: W.L. Craig

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2000-11-30

Total Pages: 276

ISBN-13: 0792366352

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The central question in the philosophy of time is whether time is tensed or tenseless, viz., whether the moments of time are objectively past, present or future, or whether they are ordered merely by the tenseless temporal relations earlier than, simultaneous with, and later than. In this book and the companion volume The Tensed Theory of Time: A Critical Examination, Craig undertakes the first thorough appraisal of the arguments for and against the tensed and tenseless theories of time. The discussions range widely over issues in the philosophy of language, phenomenology, relativity theory, philosophy of space and time, metaphysics, and philosophy of religion. The Tenseless Theory of Time sets out to discover whether the ineliminability of tense from language and our experience of tense warrants a belief in its objective ontological status, or whether the defeaters raised by McTaggart's paradox and the Myth of Passage serve to undermine any warrant that the tensed theory of time may be supposed to enjoy.


Book Synopsis The Tenseless Theory of Time by : W.L. Craig

Download or read book The Tenseless Theory of Time written by W.L. Craig and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2000-11-30 with total page 276 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The central question in the philosophy of time is whether time is tensed or tenseless, viz., whether the moments of time are objectively past, present or future, or whether they are ordered merely by the tenseless temporal relations earlier than, simultaneous with, and later than. In this book and the companion volume The Tensed Theory of Time: A Critical Examination, Craig undertakes the first thorough appraisal of the arguments for and against the tensed and tenseless theories of time. The discussions range widely over issues in the philosophy of language, phenomenology, relativity theory, philosophy of space and time, metaphysics, and philosophy of religion. The Tenseless Theory of Time sets out to discover whether the ineliminability of tense from language and our experience of tense warrants a belief in its objective ontological status, or whether the defeaters raised by McTaggart's paradox and the Myth of Passage serve to undermine any warrant that the tensed theory of time may be supposed to enjoy.