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Work #849 · Mid

Scientific Thought

C. D. Broad
1923 · English
Philosophical treatise · Early-twentieth-century British analytic philosophy of science

Broad's 1923 critical-realist treatise — founding the growing-block theory of time

Attribute Fingerprint

Rows where works disagree are highlighted in gold. The full ontology grid is shown.

Attribute Scientific Thought (Mid)
Time · Extent Infinite
Time · Ontological Status Substantival
Time · Grain Continuous
Time · Freedom Non-Deterministic
Time · Traversability Linear
Time · Dimensionality One
Time · Direction Uni-directional
Space · Extent Infinite
Space · Ontological Status Substantival
Space · Curvature Curved
Space · Dimensionality Three
Space · Locality Local
Matter · Extent Infinite
Matter · Ontological Status Substantival
Matter · Conservation Conserved
Matter · Dimensionality Three
Matter · Locality Local
Observer · Time Instance Single
Observer · Space Instance Single
Observer · Knowledge Extent Partial
Observer · Knowledge Retainment Total
Observer · Physicality Embodied
Observer · Agency Both
Observer · Number Plural
Observer · Metaphysical Agency None
Observer · Moral Authority Reason
Observer · Theological Method
Energy · Extent Infinite
Energy · Ontological Status Substantival
Energy · Conservation Conserved
Energy · Dispersibility Irreversible
Information · Ontological Status Substantival
Information · Cosmic Conservation Conserved
Information · Personal Conservation Conserved
Information · Granularity Continuous

Dimension-by-Dimension Evidence

What each work's passages reveal about its stance on each of the six dimensions.

Time

Scientific Thought

The growing block — past and present real, future not.

Space

Scientific Thought

Relativistic space-time.

Matter

Scientific Thought

The accumulating material world.

Observer

Scientific Thought

The critical-realist scientist-philosopher.

Energy

Scientific Thought

Energies of the growing edge.

Information

Scientific Thought

The accumulating temporal record.

Internal Tensions

Where each work's argument pulls against itself.

Scientific Thought

Broad's Scientific Thought: founding work of growing-block theory of time; foundational for British analytic philosophy of science.