High Hopes for Eternalism

Abstract In this paper, I present two puzzles that pose a challenge for semantic eternalism, i.e., the thesis that propositions do not change their truth-values over time. The puzzles concern the attitude of hope. The first one is generated by the intuitive condition for hope’s satisfaction, according to which a hope that p is satisfied at t if and only if p is true at t . The second puzzle follows from the standard assumptions about probability. I argue that proponents of semantic eternalism can solve both puzzles. Firstly, I propose an alternative account of hope’s satisfaction. The second puzzle is addressed by revisiting the link between truth and probability. My conclusion is that the case for eternalism is not yet lost.