The B-theory of time is also burdened with heavy philosophical problems. On the B-theory, temporal becoming is an entirely
subjective phenomenon, and hence not an objective feature of reality. In the absence of
minds, every temporal moment and event simply exists tenselessly; there are no tensed facts; no past, present, or future; nothing comes into existence or happens except in the tenseless sense of existing at certain appointed stations as opposed to others. If the mental phenomenon of temporal becoming is an objective feature of reality, this amounts to a denial of the B-theory of time.
[6] If the B-theorist bites the bullet, stating that there is no temporal becoming of mental states, then this flies in the face of experience.
Sir Arthur Eddington states "We have direct insight into 'becoming' which sweeps aside all symbolic knowledge as on an inferior plane. If I grasp the notion of existence because I myself exist, I grasp the notion of becoming because I myself become. It is the innermost Ego of all that is and becomes."
[7]
Temporal philosopher
William Lane Craig explains that the B-Theory suffers the same incoherence as all theories that time is illusory, namely, that an
illusion or appearance of becoming involves becoming, so that becoming cannot be mere illusion or appearance. The
Buddhist can consistently deny the reality of the physical world, since the illusion of physicality does not entail physicality, but this is not the case with temporal becoming.
[8] John Laird writes: "Take the supposed illusion of change. This must mean that something, X, appears to change when in fact it does not change at all. That may be true about X; but how could the illusion occur unless there were change somewhere? If there is no change in X, there must be a change in the deluded mind that contemplates X. The illusion of change is actually a changing illusion. Thus the illusion of change implies the reality of some change. Change, therefore, is invincible in its stubbornness; for no one can deny the appearance of change."
[9]