more from this thinker     |     more from this text


Single Idea 8271

[filed under theme 9. Objects / E. Objects over Time / 3. Three-Dimensionalism ]

Full Idea

The 'endurance' view is that an object persists by being 'wholly present' at more than one time, and the 'perdurance' view is that an object has different temporal parts which exist at different times.

Gist of Idea

An object 'endures' if it is always wholly present, and 'perdures' if different parts exist at different times

Source

E.J. Lowe (The Possibility of Metaphysics [1998], 5)

Book Ref

Lowe,E.J.: 'The Possibility of Metaphysics' [OUP 2001], p.106


A Reaction

It is tempting to say that only a philosopher would come up with a view as bizarre as the second one. Trying to imagine God's view of time has led to a lot of confusion. Endurance seems to need substance, so bundle views of objects encourage perdurance.


The 12 ideas with the same theme [objects extend in space, but not in time]:

'Dense' time raises doubts about continuous objects, so they need 'continuous' time [Harré/Madden]
Endurance is the wrong account, because things change intrinsic properties like shape [Lewis]
There are three responses to the problem that intrinsic shapes do not endure [Lewis]
3-D says things are stretched in space but not in time, and entire at a time but not at a location [Fine,K]
Genuine motion, rather than variation of position, requires the 'entire presence' of the object [Fine,K]
An object 'endures' if it is always wholly present, and 'perdures' if different parts exist at different times [Lowe]
Three-dimensionalists assert 'enduring', being wholly present at each moment, and deny 'temporal parts' [Sider]
Some might say that its inconsistency with time travel is a reason to favour three-dimensionalism [Sider]
Endurance theory can relate properties to times, or timed instantiations to properties [Hawley]
Endurance is a sophisticated theory, covering properties, instantiation and time [Hawley]
The persistence of objects seems to be needed if the past is to explain the present [Haslanger]
Persistence makes change and its products intelligible [Haslanger]