Passage in the Moving Spotlight

Ross Cameron (University of Virginia)

Abstract.  What does it take for time to pass? Here are two extreme answers: It is sufficient for time to pass that things be different from one time to another, and so even the B-theory allows for the passage of time. It is necessary for time to pass that there be a dimension of hypertime, through which our entire history changes. I will argue that both extreme answers are false. There is no genuine passage on the B-theory, but the A-theorist does not need hypertime to secure the passage of time. I will present a version of the Moving Spotlight view that accounts for genuine passage, and argue that it is superior to rival accounts of passage defended by Kit Fine and Bradford Skow.