Our engagement with time is a ubiquitous feature of our lives. We are aware of time on many scales, from the briefest flicker of change to the way our lives unfold over many years. But to what extent does this encounter reveal the true nature of temporal reality? To the extent that temporal reality is as it seems, how do we come to be aware of it? And to the extent that temporal reality is not as it seems, why does it seem that way? These are the central questions addressed by Simon Prosser in Experiencing Time.
These questions take on a particular importance in philosophy for two reasons. Firstly, there is a view concerning the metaphysics of time, known as the B-theory of time, according to which the apparently dynamic quality of change, the special status of the present, and even the passage of time are all illusions. Instead, the world is a four-dimensional space-time block, lacking any of the apparent dynamic features of time. If the B-theory is correct, as the book argues, then it must be explained why our experiences seem to tell us otherwise. Secondly, experiences of temporal features such as changes, rates and durations are of independent interest because of certain puzzles that they raise, the solutions to which may shed light on broader issues in the philosophy of mind.
Industry Reviews
One of the central debates in contemporary discussions of the philosophy of time is the one between the A-theory and B-theory... Despite the fact that the detector and multi-detector arguments fail to undermine the A-theory, there are still many interesting and useful suggestions in these chapters pertaining to the issue of how to make sense of certain features of human experience in terms that are amenable to the B-theory. For this reason, I highly recommend Prosser's book to anyone working in the field. * P.X Monaghan, Philosophy in Review *
Experiencing Time addresses an exciting topic: what bearing the phenomenology of our experience of time might have on some key disputes over the nature of temporal reality, centrally whether the character of that phenomenology favours an 'A-theory' of time, which holds that there is temporal passage, over a 'B-theory' or 'static block' view... Prosser's book is rich in argument. * Barry Lee, Analysis *
Prosser carefully explains unfamiliar terms and issues as they arise, making this an excellent introduction to issues in both the philosophy of time and the philosophy of mind for the general philosophical reader ... Exploring Time is a provocative, engaging and yet accessible exploration of the many different elements of our temporal experience, while at the same time being a stalwart defence of the B-theory of time. ... He draws not just on work in metaphysics and the philosophy of the mind but also on recent empirical work in psychology and cognitive science. This is a must-read for anyone interested in the philosophy of time and the psychology of temporal experience. * Heather Dyke, Philosophy Now *
The most ambitious attempt I know of to explain how the B-theory of time can account for the dynamic features of experience The book does a good job of presenting what the issue is, and introduces interesting new perspectives to it . . . I thoroughly recommend it. * R.D. Ingthorsson, Metascience Review *
Prosser's proposals are important and his discussion engaging. His treatment also contains much of value even to those who do not share his guiding interest in defending the B-theory . . . In short, whatever one's perspective, Prosser's book is rich fare for thought, and essential reading for anyone puzzled by our experiential encounter with time. * Ian Phillips, Notre Dame Philosophical Review *
