Single Idea 22933

[catalogued under 27. Natural Reality / D. Time / 2. Passage of Time / d. Time series]

Full Idea

We imagine presentness moving, like the spot of light from a policeman's bulls eye traversing the fronts of houses in a street. What is illuminated is present, what was illuminated is past, and what is not yet illuminated is the future.

Gist of Idea

We imagine the present as a spotlight, moving across events from past to future

Source

C.D. Broad (Scientific Thought [1923], II)

Book Reference

Broad,C.D.: 'Scientific Thought' [Routledge 2010], p.59


A Reaction

This is the 'moving spotlight' compromise theory, which retains the B-series eternal sequence of ordered events, but adds the A-series privileged present moment. Le Poidevin says Broad represents time twice over.