In the 2nd episode of the Theory Series, Alek leads us on a journey through time. We look at 3 different Time based theories and discuss which ones are most likely to be true and what we would do if we could time travel.
Guide for Episode 5: Time
Alek’s Theory(Presentism, Eternalism & The Growing Block Theory)
Time is something that we take for granted, but “presentist” philosophers argue that there’s neither a past nor a future – just the present exists at any one time. According to one great Buddhist scholar, Fyodor Shcherbatskoy: “Everything past is unreal, everything future is unreal, everything imagined, absent, mental . . . is unreal. . . . Ultimately real is only the present moment of physical efficiency.”
In sharp contrast to presentism, as outlined above, the philosophical theory of eternalism states that time actually has many different layers, comparable to a sponge cake. All of the layers exist at the same time, but a given layer that’s seen by an observer is wholly dependent on where he is standing (perspective). In other words, the Second World War and Lady Gaga exist at the same time, but they can only be viewed from certain points. This view leads to a hopelessly deterministic future. In addition, free will is nothing more than an illusion. (Source 1)
According to the growing block universe theory of time (or the growing block view), the past and present exist while the future does not. The present is an objective property, to be compared with a moving spotlight. By the passage of time more of the world comes into being; therefore, the block universe is said to be growing. The growth of the block is supposed to happen in the present, a very thin slice of spacetime, where more of spacetime is continually coming into being. Growing block theory should not be confused with block universe theory, also known as eternalism.
This dynamic theory of time conforms with the common-sense intuition that the past is fixed, the future is unreal, and the present is constantly changing. (source 2)
-Growing Block Theory is the one to believe in as I think it produces the most hope for any type of person. It avoids the idea that the future is set, and in some cases destiny is a thing or that there is some almighty plan for people. That by doing what you can in the Present, you can improve life (or worsen depending) by focusing on your Now more than an idea of a future. Which we already subconsciously do when making plans for basic things like paying bills on time and such. This also shows that focusing on the future too much is a bad thing for any big plans or ideas that can easily be uprooted by the present. This theory also gives a placeholder to our past experiences, and lets them be real.
Hypothetical Question: If you could go back in time, Would you? If so, why? Are you afraid of any potential consequences?
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