Abstract:

In opposition to the dominant position in contemporary physics and philosophy of physics, I believe that there is an objective flow of time – the universe is not a static four-dimensional spacetime manifold. I'll defend this thesis against the claim (by for example Callender and Dorato) that it is really no different than the view that there is no objective flow of time. I'll also defend this thesis against the claim (by for example Gödel and Putnam) that it is inconsistent with fundamental physics. Next, I'll give positive reasons to believe the thesis that there is an objective flow of time. Specifically, I'll favorably compare the thesis with other views about the arrow of time. I'll also argue that the thesis best accounts for why we can't engage in backwards time travel.