Week 5: Hawley, 'Sticking stages together'

 

DQ1. What is persistence? Explain what it means in general. Then, fill in the table below that distinguishes three different accounts.

Dimensions that an object exists in Objects exist entirely at a moment (Y/N) The same object exists at multiple times (Y/N) Persistence defined by:
Perdurantism        
Endurantism        
Stage Theory        

 

DQ2. (a) Describe a problem that the endurantist faces. (b) Consider a reconstruction of the Rotating Disc Argument against perdurantism, below. Is it valid? Is it sound?

  1. If (A) an account of persistence is adequate, and (B) there are two qualitatively different ways for persistence to occur; then that difference must be describable on the account.
  2. There are two qualitatively different ways for a homogeneous disc to persist, rotating and non-rotating.
  3. That difference is not describable on the perdurantist account.
  4. Therefore, perdurantism is not an adequate account of persistence.

 

(Optional) DQ3. Evaluate the 'stage theory' view of persistence, where the relationship between stages is described by a 'natural' relation like a law of nature.