The Evolutionary Origins of Tensed Language and Belief
Dyke, Heather

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Dyke, H. (2011). The Evolutionary Origins of Tensed Language and Belief. Biology and Philosophy, 26(3), 401–418. doi:10.1007/s10539-011-9263-5
Permanent link to OUR Archive version:
http://hdl.handle.net/10523/1741
Abstract:
I outline the debate in metaphysics between those who believe time is tensed and those who believe it is tenseless. I describe the terms in which this debate has been carried out, and the significance to it of ordinary tensed language and widespread common sense beliefs that time is tensed. I then outline a case for thinking that our intuitive beliefs about tense constitute an Adaptive Imaginary Representation (Wilson 1990, 1995). I also outline a case for thinking that our ordinary tensed beliefs and tensed language owe their tensed nature to its being adaptive to adopt a temporally self-locating perspective on reality. If these conclusions are right, then common sense intuitions and temporal language will be utterly misleading guides to the nature of temporal reality.
Date:
2011
Publisher:
Springer
Pages:
401-418
Keywords:
evolution; time; tense; language
Research Type:
Journal Article
Languages:
English
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- Journal Article [785]
- Philosophy [52]