Single Idea 14020

[catalogued under 27. Natural Reality / D. Time / 1. Nature of Time / f. Eternalism]

Full Idea

I use the term Eternalism for the thesis that reality includes past, present and future entities. (It is sometimes used for the view that all propositions have their truth-value eternally - it is always true or never true).

Gist of Idea

'Eternalism' is the thesis that reality includes past, present and future entities

Source

Thomas M. Crisp (Presentism [2003], Intro n.1)

Book Reference

'The Oxford Handbook of Metaphysics', ed/tr. Loux,M /Zimmerman,D [OUP 2005], p.212


A Reaction

'Eternalism' strikes me as an excellent word for the former meaning, so I shall promote that, and quietly forget the second one. The idea that the future exists has always stuck in my craw, and the belief that Napoleon still exists strikes me as a weird.