The Philosopher’s Zone – Why time doesn’t pass

Intro

In this episode of “The Philosopher’s Zone,” Heather Dyke, Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Otago, explores the philosophy of time and the debate between the A-theory and B-theory of time. She discusses how language influences our perception of time and the challenges posed by the B-theory in reconciling with our subjective experience of time passing.

Main Takeaways

The Nature of Time

• The philosophy of time challenges everyday preconceptions about how the world works.
• The A-theory of time posits that time passes and privileges the present moment as more real than the future or past.
• The B-theory of time suggests that past, present, and future events all exist but do not flow along, and there is no privileged present moment.
• The A-theory adheres to two metaphysical claims about the nature of time: an objective, mind-independent distinction between past, present, and future, and the present is metaphysically privileged in some way.
• Different versions of the A-theory include presentism, where only the present exists, and the Moving Spotlight theory, where the present moment is objectively picked out as the moment in the spotlight.

Language and Perception of Time

• Language makes it easy for us to describe time as dynamic, with different languages using different spatial metaphors to talk about time.
• All languages have some means of identifying temporal locations in terms of their relation to the present, which is necessary for us to navigate the world successfully.
• The language we speak as a first language can influence the way we think about things, including time, and different languages prioritize different spatial metaphors to talk about time.
• Different languages have different ways of talking about time, such as Mandarin placing the past above and the future below.
• Language can influence the way we think about time, but it doesn’t completely determine it.

The B-Theory of Time

• The B-theory of time denies that there is an objective distinction between past, present, and future and that time flows dynamically.
• Tense is embedded in our language, but all that’s needed to make any tense utterance true is some tenseless relational fact.
• The B-theory explains the tense notions in terms of relational features, relations between observers and the events they’re talking about.
• The B-theory fits better with scientific thinking about time.
• According to the special theory of relativity, there’s no such thing as absolute similarity.

Perception of Time and Memory

• The phenomenon of time either slowing down or speeding up in certain critical situations is interesting and raises further questions.
• Our experience of time changes as we age, with childhood summers seeming longer than adult summers.
• Psychologist Alison Gopnik suggests that babies and young children use “lantern attention” to take in everything around them, while adults use “spotlight attention” to focus on specific goals.
• When experiencing the world in a “lantern” way, we take in more data and process more information, leading to more intense memories.
• Our perception of time is influenced by the amount of novel experiences we have during a period of time.

Summary

The Nature of Time

The philosophy of time challenges our everyday understanding of how time works. The A-theory of time posits that time passes and privileges the present moment as more real than the future or past. In contrast, the B-theory suggests that past, present, and future events all exist simultaneously. Different versions of the A-theory, such as presentism and the Moving Spotlight theory, offer different perspectives on the nature of time.

Language and Perception of Time

Language plays a significant role in how we perceive and talk about time. Different languages use spatial metaphors to describe the dynamic nature of time. However, while language can influence our thinking, it does not completely determine our perception of time. The language we speak as a first language can shape our understanding of time, with different languages prioritizing different spatial metaphors to talk about time.

The B-Theory of Time

The B-theory of time challenges the idea of an objective distinction between past, present, and future. It explains tense notions in terms of relational features and fits better with scientific thinking about time, including the special theory of relativity. According to this theory, there is no absolute similarity, and the perception of time as a dynamic flow may be counter-intuitive to most people.

Perception of Time and Memory

Our perception of time is influenced by various factors, including critical situations where time may appear to slow down or speed up. As we age, our experience of time changes, with childhood summers seeming longer than adult summers. Psychologist Alison Gopnik suggests that babies and young children have a broader attention span, taking in more information and creating more intense memories. Novel experiences and the amount of data we process also affect our perception of time.

Conclusion

The philosophy of time raises intriguing questions about the nature of reality and our subjective experience of time passing. While the A-theory and B-theory offer different perspectives, the B-theory challenges our intuitive understanding of time as a dynamic flow. Language and memory play significant roles in shaping our perception of time. Ultimately, understanding the nature of time can lead to a greater appreciation of each moment and our responsibility in shaping our future.