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Single Idea 14615

[filed under theme 27. Natural Reality / D. Time / 2. Passage of Time / b. Rate of time ]

Full Idea

If it is said that time flows, then it seems that the question 'how fast does it flow?' is a devastating one for the A-theorist.

Gist of Idea

If time flows, then 'how fast does it flow?' is a tricky question

Source

J.J.C. Smart (The Tenseless Theory of Time [2008], 5)

Book Ref

'Contemporary Debates in Metaphysics', ed/tr. Sider/Hawthorne/Zimmerman [Blackwell 2008], p.235


A Reaction

This is one of the basic landmarks in any debate on time. Time can't be understood by analogy with anything else (such as a river) it seems.


The 4 ideas from 'The Tenseless Theory of Time'

Metaphysics should avoid talk of past, present or future [Smart]
Special relativity won't determine a preferred frame, but we can pick one externally [Smart]
The past, present, future and tenses of A-theory are too weird, and should be analysed indexically [Smart]
If time flows, then 'how fast does it flow?' is a tricky question [Smart]