On the alleged metaphysical superiority of timelessness

William L. Craig

pp. 181-186

in: L. N. Oaklander (ed), The importance of time, Berlin, Springer, 2001

Abstract

In his recent study Time and Eternity, Brian Leftow maintains that timeless existence is metaphysically superior to temporal existence (Leftow (1991), p. 278). He argues at great length that timeless beings have a higher degree of existence, in view of their truer presence and greater unity, than temporal beings and are therefore metaphysically superior to them.¹ It follows that it would most befit God, as a perfect being, to be timeless. In this paper I wish to assess Leftow's arguments in support of his claim.