Single Idea 22996

[catalogued under 27. Natural Reality / D. Time / 2. Passage of Time / e. Tensed (A) series]

Full Idea

One of the limitations of the A-series is that temporal passage then presupposes the existence of properties of being present, being past and being future.

Gist of Idea

The A-series has to treat being past, present or future as properties

Source

Baron,S/Miller,K (Intro to the Philosophy of Time [2019], 2.1)

Book Reference

Baron,S/Miller,K: 'Introduction to the Philosophy of Time' [Polity 2019], p.39


A Reaction

Metaphysicians happily talk about 'properties' all the time, and most of them never grasp how ambiguous and obscure that concept is. The idea that my recent scratching of my chin first acquired the 'present' property and then lost it is incoherent.

Related Idea

Idea 22997 The present moment is a matter of existence, not of acquiring a property [Baron/Miller]