Time and time again: two volumes by William Lane Craig William Lane Craig The Tensed Theory of Time: A Critical Examination. Synthese Library Volume 293. (Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2000). Pp. v+287. £78.00 (Hbk). ISBN 0792366344. William Lane Craig The Tenseless Theory of Time: A Critical Examination. Synthese Library Volume 294. (Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2000). Pp. v+256. £65.00 (Hbk). ISBN 0792366352.

PAUL HELM

doi:10.1017/s0034412502006157

Time and time again: two volumes by William Lane Craig William Lane Craig The Tensed Theory of Time: A Critical Examination. Synthese Library Volume 293. (Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2000). Pp. v+287. £78.00 (Hbk). ISBN 0792366344. William Lane Craig The Tenseless Theory of Time: A Critical Examination. Synthese Library Volume 294. (Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2000). Pp. v+256. £65.00 (Hbk). ISBN 0792366352.

Religious Studies ◽

10.1017/s0034412502006157 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 38 (4) ◽

pp. 489-498

Author(s):

PAUL HELM

Keyword(s):

Philosophy Of Science ◽

Critical Examination ◽

William Lane Craig ◽

Tenseless Theory ◽

Tensed Theory

The two books make a notable contribution in drawing together many of the philosophical problems about time, and the associated literature. The expositions are also valuable for their interdisciplinary strengths, especially in the history and philosophy of science and (to a lesser extent) in theology, and for the clarity and thoroughness of Craig's approach. However, the two books do not present, as might at first appear, a side by side exposition of the respective strengths and weaknesses of the A-series and the B-series views of time. They are, rather, one interconnected defence of the A-series view. Some of the strengths and weaknesses of Craig's exposition and defence of the A-series view are noted.

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Religionsvidenskabens primitivitetsopfattelser

Religionsvidenskabeligt Tidsskrift ◽

10.7146/rt.v0i25.5287 ◽

1994 ◽

Author(s):

Armin W. Geertz

Keyword(s):

Social Sciences ◽

Philosophy Of Science ◽

Intercultural Communication ◽

Cultural Construction ◽

Critical Examination ◽

The Political ◽

Ethical Problems ◽

Recent Developments ◽

Implicit And Explicit

This article explores notions of primitivism through a critical examination of the implicit and explicit assumptions behind these notions against the background of recent developments in the philosophy of science. In the section on terms and definitions the empirical and theoretical problems involved in the use of these terms are raised. The section on primitivism and literacy explores the weaknes of the stance known as "The Great Divide" thesis. The problems associated with mentality and rationalism follow with recent criticisms from the philosophy of science and anthropology on the attempt to model the hunman and social sciences on the hard sciences, on the illusions of linguistic and other forms of exactitude in the natural sciences, on the mutual incompatibility of notions of rationalism used in the various sciences, and on the questionability of a too close encounter between the cultural sciences and philosophy. The section on tradition and change explores the role of the supposed dichotomy between the two in notions of primitivism and xplores the political and ethical problems involved i nthe historiography of exotic cultures. This leads to the section on the whole problem of the cultural construction of the Other and the role played by stereotypes in that construction. The article ends with a discussion of the formidable problems in intercultural communication with an appeal to Western scientists to be more reflective on and critidal of their own positions.

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