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1、Reading Guide for Philosophy of TimeImportant note: This is a guide to the readings in the module reading pack. It gives notes on the relative importance of selections in the pack, and the relative level of difficulty of each piece. It also contains
2、notes on connections between papers, and some guidance on which sections to focus on in particular readings.Abbreviations:(K) : Key(C) : Central(B) : Background(A) : Additional (i.e. goes significantly beyond what we covered in the module—NB:May be m
3、arkedly more difficult to understand than other material.)(D) : Difficult materialMcTaggart’sArgumentThe obvious place to start isMcTaggart 1927 (K).The initial journal article from 1908 is also worth a look, as it contains a slightly different prese
4、ntation—the 1908 piece is available online via the Library’s e‐journal service.Broad 1938(C)stages a spirited resistance to McTaggart’s argument. It’s interesting that Broad’s comments might be read as consistent with a Serious Tenser or even Moving‐
5、Now Block Theory until late in the selection, where he says McTaggart’s mistake is ‘to treat absolute becoming as if it were a species of qualitative change’ (p. 317)—this sounds more like Presentism (or Growing Block Theory).Dummett 1960(C)defends M
6、cTaggart’s argument, attempting to make it depend upon a requirement for A‐facts if there is to be change. In thinking about whether Dummett’s defence is successful, it’s important to look at the assumptions he makes.Mellor 1993(C)(D)argues that McTa
7、ggart’s argument does away with all dynamic theories of time (not just Moving‐Now Block). Mellor writes in a very compressed style, with little in the way of helpful explanation of his key points, so this is tough going. Once you’ve considered Prior’
8、s ‘primitive operator’ view of temporal talk, you might like to look at Mellor’s negative remarks on this sort of approach, around pp.53–4. What do you think of Mellor’s remarks? Do his points cut against Presentist approaches?The next key paper is C
