Time, tense, and modality : a study of branching time

This thesis is about branching time. In the opening chapter I discuss philosophical ideas in the philosophy of time and modality, and motivate branching time. In the second chapter I outline the basics of temporal and modal logic and model theory. In chapter three I examine various ways of construin...

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Main Author Malpass, Alex P
Format Dissertation
LanguageEnglish
Published University of Bristol 2011
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Summary:This thesis is about branching time. In the opening chapter I discuss philosophical ideas in the philosophy of time and modality, and motivate branching time. In the second chapter I outline the basics of temporal and modal logic and model theory. In chapter three I examine various ways of construing the future tense in branching time. In chapter four I examine closely 'Ockhamist' semantics, and suggest a modification to the theory of the Thin Red Line, making a position referred to as 'STRL'. In chapter five I outline how a theory of counterfactuals can be made compatible with STRL logic. In chapter 6 I discuss branching time's relation to relativity theory. In chapter 7 I end with a discussion of the metaphysics of Belnap and the metaphysics of STRL.
Bibliography:0000000427185965