Abstract
This paper considers one unique solution to the puzzle of temporal passage in the block universe. (Norton, Humana. Mente: Journal of Philosophical Studies 13:23–34, 2010) argues that, although a precise description of its workings is currently beyond our understanding, time really passes. After introducing Norton’s account, I argue that it both implies a counterintuitive relationship between the “now” and passage and that it leads to an unlikely relationship between our experience and reality. I then propose that, even if one is willing to accept these consequences, there is reason to question whether Norton builds a convincing case for the claim that, since we are not able to find any of the identifying characteristics of an illusion in the case of temporal passage, the passage of time is not an illusion.
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Ewing, K. Norton’s Objective Temporal Passage. Philosophia 50, 65–74 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11406-021-00386-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11406-021-00386-8