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Full Idea
Merricks argues that the growing block view says that we live in the subjective present, and that there is a growing edge of being, but he then suggests that these two could come apart, and it would make no difference, so the growing block is incoherent.
Gist of Idea
Growing block has a subjective present and a growing edge - but these could come apart
Source
report of Trenton Merricks (Goodbye Growing Block [2006], 4) by PG - Db (ideas)
Book Ref
'Oxford Studies in Metaphysics vol.2', ed/tr. Zimmerman,Dean W. [OUP 2006], p.108
A Reaction
[I think that is the nub of his argument. I couldn't find a concise summary in his words]
| 1702 | Things may be necessary once they occur, but not be unconditionally necessary [Aristotle] |
| 5980 | How can ten days ahead be a short time, if it doesn't exist? [Augustine] |
| 8160 | The present and past exist, but the future does not [Broad, by Dummett] |
| 14609 | We could say present and past exist, but not future, so that each event adds to the total history [Broad] |
| 9666 | It is quite implausible that the future is unreal, as that would terminate everything [Lewis] |
| 15195 | If the future is not real, we don't seem to have any obligation to future individuals [Le Poidevin] |
| 14722 | Between presentism and eternalism is the 'growing block' view - the past is real, the future is not [Sider] |
| 17961 | Growing block has a subjective present and a growing edge - but these could come apart [Merricks, by PG] |
| 14610 | Neither 'moving spotlight' nor 'growing block' views explain why we care what is present or past [Zimmerman,DW] |
| 14015 | No-Futurists believe in past and present, but not future, and say the world grows as facts increase [Bourne] |
| 22991 | How can we know this is the present moment, if other times are real? [Baron/Miller] |
| 22992 | If we are actually in the past then we shouldn't experience time passing [Baron/Miller] |