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Thesis on time

Pantelides, Leonidas (1981) Thesis on time. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) thesis, University of Kent. (doi:10.22024/UniKent/01.02.94573) (KAR id:94573)

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Abstract

The concept of time is in some essential and non-trivial way tied up with the issue of "structure". But while there is reason discouraging us from saying that time itself is a structured specificity, (in the manner let's say of McTaggart), nevertheless in some way its meaning consists as a linguistic/conceptual substitute for the idea of structuration of non-tempora1 determinations. Philosophically, we are better off not saying that time pocesses "ontical being" - (to borrow a term from Heidegger) - ie. that time itself is a set of facts to be found "in the world". Yet, at the same time we can not say that time does not exist. What then might the correct manner be so that we can both account for its meaningful description and steer clear of contradictions? So, too, we must say that time is not (simply) an ontological commitment. If we did, we would have to decide on a priviledged starting-point, a set of most fundamental claims about the world which would serve as the grounds from which time is to be inferred. But if different choices would lead to different interpretations of time, on what basis should we account for an independent ontological status for time? In this way time remains bound thematically and is made an inexplicable horizon of whatever structures are assumed to constitute the world. Rather, we must philosophically assert that time meta-logically pre-dates and indeed grounds these logical functions of construing the world as either "factual" or "factical". This, time can do because it is what we might call an "onto-constitutive" function. In addition to the attempt to metaphysically clarify the manner of being of time, I have made specific proposals on and have suggested analyses of the multiple and varying ways that temporal determinations are articulated as modalities. This I let for the reader of the thesis to tackle if he so wishes. I must, however, mention one additional methodological implication so that this very sketchy synopsis of the argument can be rounded off.

Item Type: Thesis (Doctor of Philosophy (PhD))
DOI/Identification number: 10.22024/UniKent/01.02.94573
Additional information: This thesis has been digitised by EThOS, the British Library digitisation service, for purposes of preservation and dissemination. It was uploaded to KAR on 25 April 2022 in order to hold its content and record within University of Kent systems. It is available Open Access using a Creative Commons Attribution, Non-commercial, No Derivatives (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) licence so that the thesis and its author, can benefit from opportunities for increased readership and citation. This was done in line with University of Kent policies (https://www.kent.ac.uk/is/strategy/docs/Kent%20Open%20Access%20policy.pdf). If you feel that your rights are compromised by open access to this thesis, or if you would like more information about its availability, please contact us at ResearchSupport@kent.ac.uk and we will seriously consider your claim under the terms of our Take-Down Policy (https://www.kent.ac.uk/is/regulations/library/kar-take-down-policy.html).
Uncontrolled keywords: Philosophy
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General)
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Arts and Humanities > Department of Philosophy
SWORD Depositor: SWORD Copy
Depositing User: SWORD Copy
Date Deposited: 06 Oct 2022 10:27 UTC
Last Modified: 06 Oct 2022 10:27 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/94573 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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