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Four dimensionalism is an ontological view concerned with how objects persist in time. The proponents of four dimensionalism claim that both past and future objects lay equal claims to having the same level of reality as does the present moment. Therefore, if any object ‘x’ is a past reality, then the past object ‘y’ is equally as real as the present object. The same line of thinking applies for any future object. If any future object ‘y’ is a future reality, then the future object ‘y’ is equally as real as any present object.

Four dimensionalism is commonly expressed by means of a spatial analogue. For an object to have spatial extension, it must have different parts at different locations in space. Temporal parts are spread through time in the same way a spatial dimension is subdivided, such as football field into yards. Just as objects are extended in space, objects are conceptualized as being extended in time.

One who believes in extended Mereological simples (from the Greek word μέρος; méros, "part"), maintains that objects do not consist of parts. The view which maintains that objects are wholly present at every moment of their existence is called endurantism. This is in contrast to perdurantism, which maintains that objects are not wholly present at every moment of their existence. Whether or not four dimensionalism applies to both objects and events is a hotly-debated topic among philosophers of time.

The concept of four dimensionalism is in direct contrast to presentism, which asserts that only the present moment exists. The past and future are viewed as illusions of the mind. Eternalism, which also stands in contrast to presentism, asserts that both things in the past and things yet to exist are eternally real. Both of these concepts are exemplified by the A-series and B-series in the work of J.M.E. McTaggart.

Temporal Parts

The idea of a whole object being composed of smaller parts is not a revolutionary idea. On the contrary, this notion is rather common. One instance of a whole object losing a part is the paradigm example of the ship of Theseus. Another illustration is a familiar routine such as getting a haircut. Both of these instances provide an example of a whole object losing a part. For the four-dimensionalist, this does not represent the notion of parthood.

The notion of parthood for a four-dimensionalist allows one to speak of the parts of an object simpliciter. That is, without any criterion or condition, versus at any particular time such as t₁ or t₂. Within the framework of four dimensionalism, one could say that his or her current temporal part is sitting at a computer, typing up a presentation on four dimensionalism, wearing sweatpants and having tea. Therefore, a four dimensionalist conceives of the parts of an object as an atemporal relation, or part of a larger space-time worm.

Furthermore, the notion of parthood allows a four-dimensionalist to account for change, in a basic and ordinary sense of the word. Change is what allows ones to distinguish between different successive temporal parts. For example, one temporal part of a person may be typing at a computer, while another temporal part will be going to sleep. Still a third temporal part will be waking up to run errands and get prepared for work later in the evening.

In Popular Culture

Four dimensionalism is a key concept in Kurt Vonnegut's book, Slaughterhouse-five. In the book, Tralfamadorians are an alien species that can see time.

External links

• Brown, C.L., 2006, "What is Space?" A philosophical, largely Wittgensteinian, approach towards a dissolution of the question: "What is space?"
• Rea, M. C., "Four Dimensionalism" in The Oxford Handbook for Metaphysics. Oxford Univ. Press. Describes presentism and four dimensionalism.

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