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Single Idea 19381

[from 'works' by William of Ockham, in 27. Natural Reality / D. Time / 1. Nature of Time / i. Denying time ]

Full Idea

Time is composed of non-entities, because it is composed of the past which does not exist now, although it did exist, and of the future, which does not yet exist; therefore time does not exist.

Gist of Idea

The past has ceased to exist, and the future does not yet exist, so time does not exist

Source

William of Ockham (works [1335], 6:496), quoted by Richard T.W. Arthur - Leibniz 7 'Nominalist'

Book Reference

Arthur, Richard T.W.: 'Leibniz' [Polity 2014], p.146


A Reaction

I've a lot of sympathy with this! I favour Presentism, so the past is gone and the future is yet to arrive. But we have no coherent concept of a present moment of any duration to contain reality. We are just completely bogglificated by it all.