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3/14/2016 7:39 am  #1


B Theory of time and Aristotle

I have read that the Aristotelian account of change is incompatible with the B theory of time because it denies any real objective change. With the lack of objective change from potency to act, the First way of the Five ways doesn't proceed accordingly. Feser addressed it by reiterating Popper's statement of change always occurring at least within consciousness itself. He also said that the Minkowski's block universe is supposedly governed by laws that are contingent, which leaves room for the laws to merely be potential until they are actualized, while Parmenides' block universe doesn't allow the same concessions. Is the current B theory of time closer to Parmenides or Minkowski's block universe?

 

3/14/2016 12:43 pm  #2


Re: B Theory of time and Aristotle

Well, there's a distinction between B-theories of time and eternalism. A B-theory of time is any theory that doesn't privilege the reality of one point in time—usually the present—over another. Eternalism is any theory of time that says the past, present, and future all exist. (The Moving Spotlight Theory is an example of A-theoretic eternalism.)

884heid wrote:

Is the current B theory of time closer to Parmenides or Minkowski's block universe?

There isn't really one B-theory of time. For instance, Minkowski squashes space and time into spacetime in his theory, whereas other B-theoretic eternalists are absolutists about space and relationalists about time[1]. So, B-theoretic eternalists don't need to follow Minkowski in positing “spacetime”.

B-theoretic eternalists don't need to agree with Parmenides either. Unless they deny irreducible dispositions or causal relations, they don't need to deny the act/potency distinction. So, B-theorists can differ from both Minkowski and Parmenides, and the answer to your question depends on the B-theorist.

Alexander Pruss has a couple of good blog posts on B-theoretic analyses of change here and here.


[1]In which case, space and time aren't even in the same ontological category; space is a particular and time, universals. (Not that it's a big deal even if space and time are in the same category. Saying space and time are both relations no more spatializes time than saying horses and sharks are both animals equinizes sharks.)

 

3/14/2016 12:58 pm  #3


Re: B Theory of time and Aristotle

That makes more sense, thanks. Are there any B-theorists that accept Parmenides' block universe and deny the act/potency distinction, either in Physics or Philosophy? Sorry for being ignorant on this issue since i am not literate in philosophy of time or physics. 

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3/14/2016 1:17 pm  #4


Re: B Theory of time and Aristotle

I'm not sure it's Parmenides's block universe, but there are almost certainly B-theoretic eternalists that deny the existence of potencies. So, yes. 

 

3/14/2016 3:30 pm  #5


Re: B Theory of time and Aristotle

Thank you for your answers

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