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Full Idea
If it is possible for there to be changeless intervals of time, then it may seem compatible with my total experience that any number of such intervals, each of them lasting billions of years, should have elapsed since I ate my last meal.
Gist of Idea
Maybe billions of changeless years have elapsed since my last meal
Source
Sydney Shoemaker (Time Without Change [1969], p.52)
Book Ref
Shoemaker,Sydney: 'Identity, Cause and Mind' [OUP 2003], p.52
A Reaction
Compare Idea 2792. A nice new sceptical thought! Shoemaker's paper is devoted, successfully I think, to proving that there can indeed by changless intervals of time.
Related Idea
Idea 2792 It is possible the world came into existence five minutes ago, complete with false memories [Russell]
| 4226 | If three regions 'freeze' every three, four and five years, after sixty years everything stops for a year [Shoemaker, by Lowe] |
| 8593 | Maybe billions of changeless years have elapsed since my last meal [Shoemaker] |
| 8594 | People have had good reasons for thinking that the circle has been squared [Shoemaker] |
| 8595 | If three regions freeze every 3rd, 4th and 5th year, they all freeze together every 60 years [Shoemaker] |
| 8596 | Inability to measure equality doesn't make all lengths unequal [Shoemaker] |
| 8597 | We couldn't verify the earth's rotation if everyone simultaneously fell asleep [Shoemaker] |
| 8598 | If things turn red for an hour and then explode, we wouldn't say the redness was the cause [Shoemaker] |