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Ontology of Time and Hyperdynamism

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Metaphysica

Abstract

 The three alternative ontological theories of time are introduced as well as the three basic temporal phenomena. The different ontological analyses by the different theories are compared and examined. A relational theory of time is advocated as a result of the examination, and an influential misrepresentation and emendation of it by McTaggart is criticized and diagnosed as hyperdynamism. Finally, the problem of the direction of time is addressed. The physicist’s solutions are rejected, and an ontological solution is offered.

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Notes

  1. The claim of Hanson and Feyerabend that observation in science is theory-laden is not wrong but their relativist conclusions are. Objectivity can be achieved by means of theoretical pluralism.

  2. Newton 1972, Definitio VII, Scholium I.

  3. Aristotle 1989 p.96, the difficulty is also the gist of Zeno’s Arrow Argument.

  4. Brentano 1976 p.96 footn.; one has to know that Brentano associates existence and justified acknowledgement.

  5. Newton does not analyze tenses. What Aristotle says in Physics 219b about the now is not relevant because, on the one hand, he identifies it with the time-points and, on the other hand, considers it a persisting substratum.

  6. An ontological grounding of the direction of a relation can be found in Tegtmeier 1992, Chap.V.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany

    Erwin Tegtmeier

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  1. Erwin Tegtmeier
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Correspondence to Erwin Tegtmeier.

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Tegtmeier, E. Ontology of Time and Hyperdynamism. Int Ontology Metaphysics 10, 185–198 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12133-009-0050-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12133-009-0050-6

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