On Temporal Events and 4-Space

E. M. Recio
PHIL 111: Metaphysics
Department of Philosophy
Drexel University, Philadelphia PA 19104

5th February 2001

Abstract:

I will attempt to explain why there is (quite literally) no time like the present; beginning with a discussion of what is meant by the term. Then I will consider the ontological status of ``past'' and ``future.'' How does the past time and the future time exist? Can statements about future states of the world be true or false? Why simultaneity represents a potential problem for some analyses of time? Is it more reasonable to view time philosophically as the fourth dimension of space/time rather than as a separate ontological entity?