本課程將研讀時間哲學中的重要議題，包含(1)時間的形上學，(2)時間的方向性，(3)時間與倫理和經驗，以及(4)物理學中的時間。（本課程將使用Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Time為主要的研讀材料，這些議題便是從當中選出的。）
關於「時間的形上學」，我們會探討下列問題：我們該採取哪種關於時間的存有學？實在界中是否存在現在以外的東西？事物能夠在時間中延續是什麼意思？當我們說過去已定而將來未定，這是什麼意思？我們要如何發展一套處理時序推論的「時序邏輯」（tense logic）？時間有沒有可能不是連續而是離散的？
「時間的方向性」則是要研究以下的問題：過去與未來的不對稱性該如何解釋？在什麼意義下，我們不能像影響未來那樣子影響過去？這是否真的完全不可能？當我們說「時間流逝」或「時間在走」時，這是什麼意思？熱力學是否能夠提供關於時間方向性的最佳解釋？
關於「時間與倫理和經驗」，我們的主要問題是：我們是如何經驗到時間的流逝的？我們又要如何分析我們對時間的經驗？我們是如何發展時間的理解？在我們身體的運動和行為中的那種內在時間性是什麼？關於時間的考量，如損益的時間位置，是否在倫理學上扮演重要角色？
最後，我們可以探討以下關於「物理學中的時間」的問題：古典力學如何理解時間？電磁學是否能夠合理地解釋時間的方向性？相對論如何改變了我們時間的理解？這是否容許了時間旅行的可能性？量子力學又是如何理解時間的？
在本課程中，我們將會探討這些關於時間的哲學問題。我們會使用Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Time作為主要的研讀材料，選擇當中的章節來研讀，並討論當中所提到的議題。請有意修課的同學特別注意，本課程不是簡介性的演講課，而是需要修課同學參與的研討課（seminar），因此我們會要求每位修課同學要負責報告研讀的材料，並參與討論。
In this course, we shall be studying philosophy of time, which includes the following topics: (1) time and metaphysics, (2) the direction of time, (3) time, ethics, and experience, and (4) time in physics. (The topics are collected from the Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Time, which is the main text we shall be using in this course.)
With regard to time and metaphysics, we shall be investigating the following questions: What kind of ontology should we accept in talking about time? Does reality contain anything beyond what is present? What is it for something to persist in time? What does it mean to say that the past is fixed whilst the future is open? How can we develop a system of “tense logic” to deal with inferences involving time? Is time possibly be discrete rather than continuous?
Turning to issues about the direction of time, we shall study the following questions: How can we explain the asymmetry between the past and the future? Is it possible (and if so in what sense) that we may influence the past just as we can influence the future? What does it mean to say that time passes or flows? Does thermodynamics provide an adequate account of temporal asymmetry?
Concerning the topic about time, ethics, and experience, our central questions will be: How do we experience the passage of time? How can we analyze our temporal experience? How do we develop temporal understanding? What constitutes the intrinsic temporality in our bodily movement and action? Does temporal consideration such as the temporal locations of benefits and harms matter to us ethically?
Finally, we may investigate the nature of time in physics with the following questions: How is time understood in classical mechanics? Does electromagnetism provide the “arrow” of time? How does the theory of relativity in physics change our concept of time? Does it allow the possibility of time travel? How is time understood in quantum mechanics?
In this course, we shall be investigating these philosophical questions about time. We shall go through chapters from the Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Time and discuss the issues raised therein. Notice that the course is offered as seminars rather than introductory lectures. Students are required to give presentations on the materials and participate in the discussion.