227TOLSTOY, LEOTIME. The perceived continuous change
in the world which is denoted by changes
in objects or states. Most people assume
that time is a basic part of reality. How-
ever, the theory of the unreality of time,
most notably advanced by Kant, argues
that time is simply a construct or frame-
work through which people view the
world but actually only exists in the mind.
The world itself does not have a temporal
component.
Beyond the reality / unreality of time
debate, there is also a debate between the
“A” theory of time and the “B” theory of
time. The “A” theory of time argues that
time is like a string stretched out with a
knife being dragged across it. Where the
knife has already been is the past, where
the knife will go is the future, and where
the knife currently is is the present. The
present is real while the past is what was
real and the future is what will be real.
The “B” theory of time argues that time is
more like a tapestry that shows all things
happening at once. This means that all
different times are equally real and no
time can be argued to be past, present,
or future. Thus, the “B” theor y of time is
sometimes called the tenseless theory of
time. Another dispute that involves time
is the argument of God’s place in time.
Some think that God is in the same
time as us and can change, just like every-
thing else. Others think that God is out-
side of time, existing eternally in one
unchanging instant and viewing all of
time at once. Also, some argue that God
was outside of time until God created
time. God then entered into our time, but
will be outside of our time again after
the created universe has ended.TOLERATION. The enduring of that
which is deemed wrong or disagreeable.
Toleration is distinct from respect. A per-
son may tolerate what he or she respects
and deems socially important or a person
may tolerate what she does not respect.
An example of the former might be a
society which tolerates (does not prose-
cute) pacifists on the grounds that it is
good for persons to follow their con-
science even if that conflicts with the
majority decisions of the society. An
example of the second may be “soft
pornography” which a society may not
respect, but it judges that to prohibit such
pornography would create great damage,
e.g., giving rise to an even more intolera-
ble underground movement is sex
trafficking. Alternatively, someone may
respect what they do not tolerate. Some-
one might admire the determination and
love that a Jehovah Witness displays for
her child, but not tolerate her religiously
motivated refusal to let her child receive a
blood transfusion when necessary to save
the child’s life.TOLSTOY, LEO (1828–1910). Chiefly
known as an outstanding Russian
novelist, Tolstoy also defended a form of