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On Special Relativity and Temporal Illusions

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Abstract

According to metaphysical tensism, there is an objective, albeit ever changing, present moment corresponding to our phenomenal experiences (Ludlow in Philosophy of language, Oxford handbook on tense and aspect. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2012; Brogaard and Marlow in Analysis 73(4):635–642, 2013). One of the principle objections to metaphysical tensism has been Einstein’s argument from special relativity, which says that given that the speed of light is constant, there is no absolute simultaneity defined in terms of observations of light rays (Einstein in Ann Phys 17:891–921, 1905). In a recent paper, Brogaard and Marlow (Analysis 73(4):635–642, 2013) argue that this objection fails. We argue that Brogaard and Marlow’s argument fails to show that special relativity does not pose a threat to metaphysical tensism.

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Notes

  1. The term “metaphysical tensism” was coined by Ludlow (2012) to suggest that tense is not a mere feature of language but rather a feature of the world.

  2. Inertial frames of reference are those moving at constant velocity with respect to one another, i.e., they are neither speeding up, slowing down, changing direction, or rotating.

  3. Unlike Einstein, his predecessors, Poincaré (1913) and Lorentz (1895) treated the aether as a preferred, albeit undetectable, frame of reference and distinguished between “true time” (in the aether) and “apparent times” for moving observers.

  4. Note that in both experiments the events are the emission of light from A and B. The difference is that while these events are simultaneous by design in the rest frame of A and B in Einstein’s setup, they stand in cause and effect relation in the rest frame of A and B in Brogaard and Marlow’s setup. Observations by observers, moving or not, do not change the reality of either setup.

  5. We thank an anonymous referee for suggesting this scenario.

References

  • Brogaard, B., & Marlow, K. (2013). Is the relativity of simultaneity a temporal illusion? Analysis, 73(4), 635–642.

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  • Einstein, A. (1905). On the electrodynamics of moving bodies. Annalen der Physik, 17, 891–921.

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  • Poincaré, H. (1913). The foundations of science. George Bruce Halsted (trans) (pp. 222–234). New York: Science Press.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Philosophy, The University of Akron Wayne College, 1901 Smucker Road, Orrville, OH, 44667, USA

    Dimitria Electra Gatzia

  2. Department of Physics and Office of Academic Affairs, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325-4703, USA

    R. D. Ramsier

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  1. Dimitria Electra Gatzia
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  2. R. D. Ramsier
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Correspondence to Dimitria Electra Gatzia.

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Gatzia, D.E., Ramsier, R.D. On Special Relativity and Temporal Illusions. Erkenn 80, 433–436 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10670-014-9651-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10670-014-9651-8

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