Abstract:
Fascinated with the concept of pre-destination, New Zealand logician Ar thur Prior (1914-1969) initiated the first systematic investigation into the logic of time. His clarity of thought and sharp distinctions are a model of p hilosophical enquiry and many of his ideas subsequently became a theoretical foundation for research on time in philosophy, linguistics and computer scien ce. This lecture will be a gentle introduction to some of these ideas, agains t the background of the life of “an exuberant, playful man of seemingly inex haustible vitality” (Copeland 2007) held in celebration of his centenary yea r.