Jamie Taylor (Durham University): Exdurantist growing block theory

[All seminars] 17:00 to 18:30 pm (GMT+0): https://meet.google.com/odf-sdnr-grw

Abstract:

In this paper, I argue that four-dimensionalists have strong motivation to accept the growing block theory (GBT) of time, as in doing so they have an attractive account of change: that for an object to change is for it to accumulate new, qualitatively distinct temporal parts. However, in accepting GBT, the four-dimensionalist ought to be an exdurantist (i.e. a stage theorist) about persistence. I argue that perdurantist GBT is untenable because it will often lead to it being the case that it is ‘ontically vague’ as to how many continuants there are, which goes against how the perdurantist deals with certain puzzle cases of coincidence and persistence. I conclude, then, that those who accept GBT and four-dimensionalism should be exdurantists, as in holding that continuants are stages and not ‘worms’ they always give a determinate answer as to how many continuants there are if GBT is true.

Link: https://meet.google.com/odf-sdnr-grw