The most important debate among twentieth-century philosophers of time has been whether events that have happened, are happening, or will happen are equally real (the tenseless theory of time) or whether there is a fundamental distinction between past, present, and future, with only present events possessing full existence (the tensed theory). In the 1980s a new version of the tenseless theory of time emerged. While advocates still posit that all events are equally real, they depart from the old tenseless theory by conceding that tensed expressions cannot be translated into tenseless ones, and support their view of time using other arguments. This anthology offers the latest turns in the debate over the new theory of time, with essays written by many of the most prominent contemporary thinkers in the philosophy of time. There are discussions on the role - or nonrole - of language in determining which theory is true; McTaggart's paradox and the logical difficulties that defenders of the tenseless theory say are inherent in tensed theory; and the nature of our experience of time, which proponents of both theories claim can now be explained. The Preface and the General Introduction to the book set the debate within the wider philosophical context and show why the subject of temporal becoming is a perennial concern of science, religion, language, logic, and the philosophy of mind.

This book is the first to provide a critical history of analytic philosophy from its inception in the late nineteenth century to the present day. Quentin Smith focuses on the connections between the four leading movements in analytic philosophy -- logical realism, logical positivism, ordinary language analysis, and linguistic essentialism -- and corresponding twentieth-century theories of ethics and of religion. Through a critical evaluation of each school's theoretical positions, Smith counters the widespread view of analytic philosophy as indifferent to important questions about fight and wrong and human meaning. He argues that analytic philosophy throughout its history has revolved around the central issues of existence, and he offers a new ethics and philosophy of religion.

The author develops a positive ethical theory based on a method of ethics first formulated by Robert Adams. Smith's theory belongs to the tradition of perfectionism or self-realization ethics and builds on Thomas Hurka's recent theory of perfectionism. In his consideration of philosophy of religion, Smith concludes that there is a sound "logical argument from evil" that takes into account Alvin Plantinga's free-will defense and undermines monotheism, paving the way to a naturalistic pantheism.

"Smith's book is original not only in intent but frequently in the detailed argument involved in evaluating the merits of the philosophies of language and their implications for ethics and philosophy of religion". -- John F. Post, Vanderbilt University

Epistemology: New Essays offers a cutting-edge overview of the current state of the field. It presents twelve new essays from several of the philosophers who have most influenced the course of debates in recent years. The selections cover a wide range of topics including epistemic justification, solipsism, skepticism, and modal, moral, naturalistic, and probabilistic epistemology. In addition, the philosophers who pioneered such approaches as reliabilism, evidentialism, infinitism, and virtue epistemology further develop these perspectives in this volume.

Einstein, Relativity and Absolute Simultaneity is an anthology of original essays by an international team of leading philosophers and physicists who have come together to reassess the contemporary paradigm of the relativistic concept of time. A great deal has changed since 1905 when Einstein proposed his Special Theory of Relativity, and this book offers a fresh reassessment of Special Relativity's relativistic concept of time in terms of epistemology, metaphysics, and physics.

Einstein, Relativity and Absolute Simultaneity is an anthology of original essays by an international team of leading philosophers and physicists who have come together to reassess the contemporary paradigm of the relativistic concept of time. A great deal has changed since 1905 when Einstein proposed his Special Theory of Relativity, and this book offers a fresh reassessment of Special Relativitya (TM)s relativistic concept of time in terms of epistemology, metaphysics, and physics.

Written for the most part in an engaging dialogue style, Time, Change and Freedom covers metaphysical topics from a student's perspective and introduces key concepts through a process of explanation, reformulation and critique.
Focusing on the philosophy of time, the dialogues cover such topics as the beginning and end of time, the nature of personal identity, and the relation of human freedom to theories of fatalism, divine foreknowledge and determinism. Each dialogue closes with a glossary of terms and suggestions for further reading.
Time, Change and Freedom concludes with a discussion of the metaphysical implications of Einstein's theory of relativity and a review of contemporary theories of time and the universe.
Written in an accessible, non-technical style, Time, Change and Freedom is an ideal introduction to the key themes of contemporary metaphysics.

This is the first introduction to metaphysics which is tied together by the idea of time. Time, Change and Freedom explores ideas such as whether there was a beginning of time and the possibility of an infinite past and an eternal future. It looks at what happens when things change, and what affect that has on us and our personal identity. The book also asks if we can be free and what is the relationship of human freedom to various theories of divine foreknowledge and determinism? The final part of the book brings students right up to date with theories of relativity and contemporary cosmology about time and the universe. Sections in Time, Change and Freedom cover: The Problem of Change God, Time and Freedom Relational and Substantival Theories of Time Tenseless Time Written in an engaging dialogue form, this book will explain the key themes of contemporary metaphysics, and at the same time the philosophy of time, to the beginner. It will be invaluable for all students on introductory philosophy courses, and for students interested in the philosophy of time and metaphysics.

Consciousness is perhaps the most puzzling problem we humans face in trying to understand ourselves. Here, eighteen essays offer new angles on the subject. The contributors, who include many of the leading figures in philosophy of mind, discuss such central topics as intentionality, phenomenal content, and the relevance of quantum mechanics to the study of consciousness.

Epistemology: New Essays offers a cutting-edge overview of the current state of the field. It presents twelve new essays from several of the philosophers who have most influenced the course of debates in recent years. The selections cover a wide range of topics including epistemic justification, solipsism, skepticism, and modal, moral, naturalistic, and probabilistic epistemology. In addition, the philosophers who pioneered such approaches as reliabilism, evidentialism, infinitism, and virtue epistemology further develop these perspectives in this volume.

Quentin Smith offers powerful arguments against the New Theory of Reference propounded by leading thhinkers in the philosophy of language. Smith defends the tensed theory of time and argues that the simultaneity is absoltue, basing this position on the theory that all propositions exist in time. Using detailed propostitions and a theory of cognitive significance, he introduces an alternative interpretation of reference that will be relevant to metaphysicians, philosophers of science and philosophers of language and may come to be recognised as the definitive statement on the tensed theory of time.

Contemporary science presents us with the remarkable theory that the universe began to exist about fifteen billion years ago with a cataclysmic explosion called `the Big Bang'. But was the Big Bang created (by God), or did it occur without cause? In this book two philosophers of the opposite viewpoints debate the question. Their arguments are based on Einstein's theory of relativity and include a discussion of the new quantum cosmology recently developed by Stephen Hawking in A Brief History of Time.

Consciousness is perhaps the most puzzling problem we humans face in trying to understand ourselves. It has been the subject of intense study for several decades, but, despite substantial progress, the most difficult problems have still not reached any generally agreed solution. Future research can start with this book. Eighteen original, specially written essays offer new angles on the subject. The contributors, who include many of the leading figures in philosophy of mind, discuss such central topics as intentionality, phenomenal content, knowledge of mental states, consciousness and the brain, and the relevance of quantum mechanics to the study of consciousness.