Central and East European
Society for Phenomenology

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The incompatibility of STR and the tensed theory of time

Quentin Smith

pp. 153-156

Abstract

Many philosophers think that the Special Theory of Relativity is compatible with the tensed or A-theory of time ("mind-independent temporal becoming"). They have argued that the future can be indeterminate or future relative to a reference frame. However, "relative futurity" is not a tensed or A-determination, but a relation that obtains in a B-series in a universe in which the tenseless theory of time (temporal features consist only of earlier than, later than and simultaneity) is true. I shall argue this point in this paper.

Publication details

Published in:

Oaklander L. Nathan (2001) The importance of time: proceedings of the philosophy of time society, 1995–2000. Dordrecht, Springer.

Pages: 153-156

DOI: 10.1007/978-94-017-3362-5_12

Full citation:

Smith Quentin (2001) „The incompatibility of STR and the tensed theory of time“, In: L. Oaklander (ed.), The importance of time, Dordrecht, Springer, 153–156.