Single Idea 23790

[catalogued under 7. Existence / B. Change in Existence / 2. Processes]

Full Idea

Processes can be modelled in two ways. They are drawn out events encompassing many changes, but dissectible into short-lived states, none including change. Or they are continuous and impenetrable, and to split them is impossible.

Gist of Idea

Processes are either strings of short unchanging states, or continuous and unreducible events

Source

Neil E. Williams (The Powers Metaphysics [2019], 09.3)

Book Reference

Williams,Neil E.: 'The Powers Metaphysics' [OUP 2019], p.211


A Reaction

Obviously a process has temporal moments in it, so the unsplittability is conceptual. I find the concept of changeless parts baffling. But if processes are drawn out, they can't be basic to ontology.