Single Idea 9663

[catalogued under 9. Objects / E. Objects over Time / 1. Objects over Time]

Full Idea

Something 'perdures' iff it persists by having different temporal parts, or stages, at different times, though no one part of it is wholly present at more than one time; whereas it 'endures' iff it persists by being wholly present at more than one time.

Gist of Idea

A thing 'perdures' if it has separate temporal parts, and 'endures' if it is wholly present at different times

Source

David Lewis (On the Plurality of Worlds [1986], 4.2)

Book Reference

Lewis,David: 'On the Plurality of Worlds' [Blackwell 2001], p.202


A Reaction

Only a philosopher would come up with a concept like perdurance. I'm thinking about this one, and will get back to you in a later-numbered idea... He compares perdurance to the way a road persists through space.