Open Access
2009 Times in Tense Logic
Ulrich Meyer
Notre Dame J. Formal Logic 50(2): 201-219 (2009). DOI: 10.1215/00294527-2009-007

Abstract

Tense logic is often said to possess insufficient expressive resources to serve as a theory of the nature of time. This paper counters this objection by showing how to obtain quantification over times in a tense logic in which all temporal distinctions are ultimately spelled out in terms of the two simple tense operators "it was the case that" and "it will be the case that." This account of times is similar to what is known as "linguistic ersatzism" about possible worlds, but there are noteworthy differences between these two cases. In particular, while linguistic ersatzism would support actualism, the view of times defended here does not support presentism.

Citation

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Ulrich Meyer. "Times in Tense Logic." Notre Dame J. Formal Logic 50 (2) 201 - 219, 2009. https://doi.org/10.1215/00294527-2009-007

Information

Published: 2009
First available in Project Euclid: 11 May 2009

zbMATH: 1197.03016
MathSciNet: MR2535585
Digital Object Identifier: 10.1215/00294527-2009-007

Subjects:
Primary: 03B44 , 03B45
Secondary: 03B80

Keywords: modal logic , possible worlds , tense logic , times

Rights: Copyright © 2009 University of Notre Dame

Vol.50 • No. 2 • 2009
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