Solution
Robert answered on
Dec 23 2021
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Running Head: INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY
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INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY
Introduction to Philosophy
Name
Institution
Introduction to Philosophy
Question One
Presentism
Presentism is the belief that only the present is real. It is therefore of the view that there are no actual objects, only non-present ones. Future grandchildren for example, may exist but there is no sense in which they exist. Yesterdays sins are also literally gone and whatever tomo
ow
ings is not actual (Rea, 2010 p. 1). While this argument is valid from a point of absolute simultaneity, it is contrary to today’s world of relativity. The argument of presentism can only be valid if the theory gives up simultaneity in its definition of the present or define it on a more relative nature (Eichman, 2007, p. 2).
Growing Block view
The Growing Block View primarily explains differences between fixed past and open future based on ontological commitment. It is therefore committed to the existence of past events and objects and disregards existence of future objects and events. This view completely distorts anything that would be regarded as definite. This is because the January 21, 2019 lunar eclipse for example, which astronomers knew will occur, would therefore be trivially false but neither true nor false (Briggs, 2010, p. 2).
Externalism
Externalism is the view that the most inclusive quantifiers range from past, present and future entities. According to externalism, the reality of any objects will be spread out in time and space usually comprising of past, present and future entities (Crisp, n.d, p. 3). The only serious attempt to disapprove externalism was by Braisy et al, (1996) whose experiments seemed to support the need for hy
id externalism. This study however failed to effectively accommodate meaning of change which is central to any definition of externalism. This therefore makes any conclusion reached misguided.
A- Theory and B- Theory
The A-theory argues that there is an objective at the present moment and an objective flow of time which is constituted by the flow of present objectives through time. An A-theorist therefore, tends to draw different pictures of reality with the objective of showing the object now, relative to the time the picture is drawn (Smith, 2010 p. 7).
The B-Theory on the other hand believes that the past and future are as real as the cu
ent. The B-Theory is opposed primarily by the present view which argues that only the present is real and that tensed facts are i
educible to tenseless ones (Sider, 2001, p. 5).
The A-Theory according to the B-Theory is either inconsistent or completely wrong. This is based on the A-Theory drawing of different pictures of reality depending on the time at which the picture was drawn (Smith, 2010 p. 1).
Three-Dimensionalism and Four - Dimensionalism
Three and Four dimensionalists seek to increase the understanding of how an object exists through extended periods of time undergoing changes and still survives. These two are however fundamentally distinguished by their claims about existence and time. According to three dimensionalists, every object has three spatial dimensions, with the object persisting through different times. The three dimensionalism stance therefore is that a three dimensional object has spatial parts but no temporal parts. According to a three dimensionalist, therefore, adulthood is just a temporal part of life but is not an object in itself. This is as a result of the belief that adulthood is only a part of your life but is not part of the individual as an independent entity (Baker, 2009 p. 1).
In contrast, four dimensionalism holds the view that every material object has four spatial temporal dimensions and persist by having a series of four dimensional temporal parts. The view of the 4D is therefore that there is a part of the individual in each temporal sub-interval of the temporal region the individual...