more from Trenton Merricks

Single Idea 6143

[catalogued under 7. Existence / B. Change in Existence / 4. Events / a. Nature of events]

Full Idea

That events endure is difficult to reconcile with the claim that, say, the American Civil War existed; for such an event seems never to have been 'wholly present' at any single time.

Gist of Idea

Prolonged events don't seem to endure or exist at any particular time

Source

Trenton Merricks (Objects and Persons [2003], §3 n14)

Book Reference

Merricks,Trenton: 'Objects and Persons' [OUP 2003], p.82


A Reaction

A nice problem example for those who, like Kim, want their ontology to include events. Personally I am happy to allow some vagueness here. The Civil War only became an 'event' on the day it finished. An event's time need not be an instant.