Prior on the logic and the metaphysics of time
Abstract
In this paper I explore three related topics emerging from Prior's
work on the logic of time. First, what is the proper province of
logic, if any? Is temporal (modal) logic just logic, on a par with the
paradigmatic case of first-order quantification theory or even simple
propositional logic? Second, what counts as an interpretation of a
formal system? In particular, can formal semantics provide an interpretation?
Third, what is the proper role of the meta-theory? In
connection with this last question we will see how Prior's attitude
towards instants of time may teach us something about the analogous
case of possible worlds.