Topics Time

Question What happens to a moment after it occurs?

Accepted:
November 4, 2005

Comments

Nothing happens to moments; things happen at them. After a moment passes, nothing that happens anymore happens at it.

Apast moment might, however, still be remembered and spoken of. Doesthat require that in some sense it "still exists" and is indeedeternal? For surely there is something that we are remembering and speaking of. Or is that a mistake? Could it rather be that while there was something that we are remembering and speaking of, there isn'tanything that we are remembering and speaking of? But is it coherent tosay that in addition to all the things that there are, there arealso things that that were but are no more? That sure soundsself-contradictory. How about: in addition to all the things that thereare, there are-or-were also the things that were but are nomore? Here, "there are-or-were" functions as a "quantifier" that coversthings that no longer exist. Some philosophers hold that if you use aquantifier like that, you are committed to the view that the things itcovers do exist (for there have to be the things it covers, for it to cover them). Can we reply, no! there merely have to be-or-have-been those things? Is this disagreement resolvable? Is it substantive or merely a quibble about words?

Question What happens to a moment after it occurs? Accepted:November 4, 2005

Question What happens to a moment after it occurs?

Accepted:
November 4, 2005