Single Idea 15261

[catalogued under 7. Existence / B. Change in Existence / 1. Nature of Change]

Full Idea

Given the Humean ontology, there is grave difficulty in making any sense at all of the concept of change with continuity as distinct from successive replacements.

Gist of Idea

Humeans can only explain change with continuity as successive replacement

Source

Harré,R./Madden,E.H. (Causal Powers [1975], 6. Intro)

Book Reference

Harré,R/Madden,E.H.: 'Causal Powers: A Theory of Natural Necessity' [Blackwell 1975], p.101


A Reaction

Hence the four-dimensionalist approach is basically Hume updated. The weird nature of time lurks behind this difficulty. If you can separate the moments of time, you can separate the bits of a continuous thing, and then ask how they relate.