1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910777464603321

Autore

Smith Quentin

Titolo

Language and Time [[electronic resource]]

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Oxford, : Oxford University Press, USA, 2002

ISBN

1-280-83784-5

9786610837847

0-19-802436-3

0-19-534818-4

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (273 p.)

Disciplina

115

121.68

Soggetti

Language and languages -- Philosophy

Space and time in language

Time

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di contenuto

Contents; I. The Argument for the Tensed Theory of Time; 1. The Translation Method and the Tensed and Tenseless Theories of Time; 2. The Untranslatability of A-Sentences by Tenseless Date-Sentences; 3. The Untranslatability of A-Sentences by Tenseless Token-Reflexive Sentences; 4. The Tensed Theory of A-Sentences; II. The Argument for Presentism; 5. Presentness as a Logical Subject of A-Sentences; 6. Presentness as a Logical Subject of Tenseless Sentences; 7. Absolute Presentness and the Special Theory of Relativity; 8. Conclusion; Index; A; B; C; D; E; F; G; H; I; J; K; L; M; N; O; P; Q; R

ST; V; W; Y; Z

Sommario/riassunto

This book offers a defense of the tensed theory of time, a critique of the New Theory of Reference, and an argument that simultaneity is absolute. Although Smith rejects ordinary language philosophy, he shows how it is possible to argue from the nature of language to the nature of reality. Specifically, he argues that semantic properties of tensed sentences are best explained by the hypothesis that they ascribe to events temporal properties of futurity, presentness, or pastness and



do not merely ascribe relations of earlier than or simultaneity. He criticizes the New Theory of Reference, which