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Single Idea 14722

[from 'Four Dimensionalism' by Theodore Sider, in 27. Natural Reality / D. Time / 1. Nature of Time / g. Growing block ]

Full Idea

Intermediate between the polar opposites of presentism and eternalism is the view (defended by Broad 1923 and Tooley 1997) that the past is real but the future is not. Reality consists of a growing four-dimensional manifold, the 'growing block universe'.

Gist of Idea

Between presentism and eternalism is the 'growing block' view - the past is real, the future is not

Source

Theodore Sider (Four Dimensionalism [2001], 2.1)

Book Reference

Sider,Theodore: 'Four Dimensionalism' [OUP 2003], p.12


A Reaction

The obvious and plausible basis for this is that statements about the past seem to have truthmakers, but statements about the future lack them. Does a truth always require ontological commitment? Death is cessation of existence.