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Time is central to our lived experience of the world. Yet, as this book reveals, it is startlingly difficult to reconcile the way we seem to experience time with many of the theories presented to us in physics and metaphysics.
This comprehensive and accessible introduction guides the unfamiliar reader through difficult questions at the intersection of the metaphysics and physics of time. It starts with the assumption that physics and metaphysics are inextricably connected, and that each can, and should, shed light on the other. The authors explore a range of views about the nature of time, showing how different these are from the way we typically think about time and our place in it. They consider such questions as: whether time travel is possible, and, if it is, whether we can change the past; whether there is a single moment that is objectively present; whether time flows or is static; and whether, ultimately, time exists at all.
An Introduction to the Philosophy of Time will appeal to students of physics and philosophy who want both a comprehensive overview of the area and enough depth to allow for rigorous discussion. The book's detailed readings and exercises will challenge students and provide a clear roadmap for further study.
List of contents
List of Figures
Introduction
1. Dynamic and Static Theories of Time
2. The Passage of Time
3. The Experience of Time
4. Time and Physics
5. Temporal Asymmetries
6. Time and Causation
7. Persistence through Time
8. The Paradoxes of Time Travel
Conclusion
Index
About the author
Sam Baron is Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Western Australia.
Kristie Miller is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Sydney.
Summary
Time is central to our lived experience of the world. Yet, as this book reveals, it is startlingly difficult to reconcile the way we seem to experience time with many of the theories presented to us in physics and metaphysics.
This comprehensive and accessible introduction guides the unfamiliar reader through difficult questions at the intersection of the metaphysics and physics of time. It starts with the assumption that physics and metaphysics are inextricably connected, and that each can, and should, shed light on the other. The authors explore a range of views about the nature of time, showing how different these are from the way we typically think about time and our place in it. They consider such questions as: whether time travel is possible, and, if it is, whether we can change the past; whether there is a single moment that is objectively present; whether time flows or is static; and whether, ultimately, time exists at all.
An Introduction to the Philosophy of Time will appeal to students of physics and philosophy who want both a comprehensive overview of the area and enough depth to allow for rigorous discussion. The book's detailed readings and exercises will challenge students and provide a clear roadmap for further study.
Report
'The metaphysics of time can be a tough nut to crack. Using down-to-earth language and highlighting important concepts, this highly readable book does an admirable job of giving students the tools they need to understand the field.'
Craig Callender, UC San Diego
'A simply excellent book that deserves to be read and is, I think, the best introduction to the topic of the philosophy of time on the market.'
Jonathan Tallant, University of Nottingham
