Nothingness

[JimL]

But Jim, there is no actual arrow of time in B-Theory, there are no distinct time frames, time is actually static. And I still have no idea why entropy would play any part in what we know or could know. Except for an arbitrary distinction.

Okay, I think you at least understand the concept now, But I don't buy it any more than you do. I don't believe that the theory has in it an explanation for experience. Why if we exist as a sequence of co-existent mental states within static time do we only experience what we call the present? The answer seems to be that we don't only experience the present, that each of our mental states is just as real as any other and that they are all experiencing their own present in their own location in time. In other words there is a me, a mental state, that is experiencing last Monday-past, and there is a me, a mental state, experiencing next Monday-future, and then there is a me, a mental state, experiencing this very moment-present. That doesn't make sense to me, if those experiential mental states all exist, co-exist, in static time, then why do I only have an actual experience of this very present moment? After all, if time is static, then each of our mental states are static as well, so if it is not myself passing through time or flowing with time, then something else has to be moving through static time, from one mental state to the next, in order to bring about the experiential aspect of time.
Maybe someone has an explanation for that?

[robertb]

From a philosophical perspective, which I think is the least interesting perspective from which to approach the question:

Here's a link to the full article:
dialectica

I'll give it a read.

[shunyadragon]

From a philosophical perspective, which I think is the least interesting perspective from which to approach the question:

Source: http://fas-philosophy.rutgers.edu/zimmerman/A-Theory.B-Theory.Tense.pdf

Are thereseems

© Copyright Original Source

Here's a link to the full article:
dialectica

Good reference, but it takes some thought and reflection to understand.

[Carrikature]

From a philosophical perspective, which I think is the least interesting perspective from which to approach the question:

Bite your tongue!

[robrecht]

Bite your tongue!

My assumption from the start was that we were discussing scientific models of time that would have some utility for theoretical physics. So I would see some value to the philosophy of science, but I'm much more interested in the scientific merits. Sorry.