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Single Idea 5979

[filed under theme 27. Natural Reality / D. Time / 1. Nature of Time / h. Presentism ]

Full Idea

Of the three divisions of time, how can two, the past and the future, be, when the past no longer is, and the future is not yet?

Gist of Idea

If the past is no longer, and the future is not yet, how can they exist?

Source

Augustine (Confessions [c.398], XI.14)

Book Ref

Augustine: 'Confessions', ed/tr. Pine-Coffin,R.S. [Penguin 1961], p.264

A Reaction

This is the oldest bewilderment about time, which naturally leads us to the thought that time cannot actually 'exist'. The remark implies that at least 'now' is safe, but that also succumbs to paradox pretty quickly.

Related Idea

Idea 16700 In order to speak about time and successive entities, the 'present' must be enlarged [Wycliff]

The 22 ideas from 'Confessions'

22888 To be aware of time it can only exist in the mind, as memory or anticipation [Augustine, by Bardon]
22887 If God existed before creation, why would a perfect being desire to change things? [Augustine, by Bardon]
22976 Memories are preserved separately, according to category [Augustine]
22977 I can distinguish different smells even when I am not experiencing them [Augustine]
22978 Memory is so vast that I cannot recognise it as part of my mind [Augustine]
22979 Three main questions seem to be whether a thing is, what it is, and what sort it is [Augustine]
22980 Memory contains innumerable principles of maths, as well as past sense experiences [Augustine]
22983 We would avoid remembering sorrow or fear if that triggered the emotions afresh [Augustine]
22982 Why does joy in my mind make me happy, but joy in my memory doesn't? [Augustine]
22981 Mind and memory are the same, as shown in 'bear it in mind' or 'it slipped from mind' [Augustine]
22984 Without memory I could not even speak of myself [Augustine]
22985 Everyone wants happiness [Augustine]
5976 If God is outside time in eternity, can He hear prayers? [Augustine]
5977 Heaven and earth must be created, because they are subject to change [Augustine]
5979 If the past is no longer, and the future is not yet, how can they exist? [Augustine]
5978 I know what time is, until someone asks me to explain it [Augustine]
5981 The whole of the current year is not present, so how can it exist? [Augustine]
5980 How can ten days ahead be a short time, if it doesn't exist? [Augustine]
5982 If the future does not exist, how can prophets see it? [Augustine]
5983 I disagree with the idea that time is nothing but cosmic movement [Augustine]
5984 Maybe time is an extension of the mind [Augustine]
16588 I prefer a lack of form to mean non-existence, than to think of some quasi-existence [Augustine]