Single Idea 14609

[catalogued under 27. Natural Reality / D. Time / 1. Nature of Time / g. Growing block]

Full Idea

One theory accepts the reality of the present and the past, but holds that the future is simply nothing at all. Nothing has happened to the present by becoming past except that fresh slices of existence have been added to the total history of the world.

Gist of Idea

We could say present and past exist, but not future, so that each event adds to the total history

Source

C.D. Broad (Scientific Thought [1923], II)

Book Reference

Broad,C.D.: 'Scientific Thought' [Routledge 2010], p.66


A Reaction

This is now known as Broad's 'Growing Block' view of time. It is tempting to say that neither past nor future exist, but it seems undeniable that statements about the past can be wholly true, unlike those about the future.