From: "Jud Evans" <Jud-AT-sunrise74.freeserve.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Modal Flux.
Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2001 17:43:12 -0000



Sent: Friday, March 16, 2001 6:03 AM
Subject: Jud's contention of the present moment

Hello Jud:

If you are trying to eliminate the notion of time with a future and past,
then perhaps it would suffice to eliminate the whole idea of time
altogether. That is, because time is an intellectual construct of past,
present, and future, then be rid of all three. Do not do away with only part
of the notion of time but with the whole thing. The idea of the present is
only an attempt by the individual to objectify that in which he is immersed.
By the very nature of existence he is immersed in something which we
objectively label as 'change'.


Hello Len:
 I quite agree with you once you remove the concept of 'time past' and 'time
future'  time present is left dangling in the air rather without a tholepin
so to speak. I'd thought of giving 'time' another name like: "modal flux,"
or "modus statim" (Latin: instant mode)  or some such thing mainly to
encourage people to try and think about time differently. I know it would be
a very ambitious project, but until a couple of hundred years ago people
still believed that the earth was flat.  It is a very difficult thing to
disabuse people of the idea of the linear chronicity of time, for the
concept is part of our lives from a very early age, and the whole world is
governed by clocks and dates and anniversaries and notions of 'past' events
and planning for the  'future.'   Of course, I am not crazy enough to
suggest abolishing clocks and timetables and anniversaries and descriptions
of completed modal fluxations as 'past' occurrences, but rather to coax
people to consider substituting 'change' for 'time'  in astro-physical
calculations and philosophical considerations. Nothing would change but our
apprehension of modal flux as an ever- present continuum, rather than as
'time' as a sparrow which flutters in at the front door of Beowulf's Great
Hall, flies over the heads of the revellers below - then exits rapidly from
the rear.

Cheers!

Jud.




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