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Single Idea 15271

[from 'Causal Powers' by Harré,R./Madden,E.H., in 9. Objects / E. Objects over Time / 4. Four-Dimensionalism ]

Full Idea

If events are instantaneous time-slices of a physical thing, the persistence of the pattern is an inexplicable fact in that there is no requirement for the successive time-slices to bear any resemblance to the event previously occurring at that place.

Gist of Idea

If things are successive instantaneous events, nothing requires those events to resemble one another

Source

Harré,R./Madden,E.H. (Causal Powers [1975], 6.IV)

Book Reference

Harré,R/Madden,E.H.: 'Causal Powers: A Theory of Natural Necessity' [Blackwell 1975], p.110


A Reaction

The Humean four-dimensional view doesn't seem to require an explanation of this (or of much else), and takes it as a brute fact that slices resemble. Something has to be a brute fact, I suppose.