| NATURE OF TIME |
A THOUGHT EXPERIMENT
Imagine two objects one moving in orbit around the other in space. Now suppose from
our distant observation point of a fixed time we observe time to get slower in the area
where these two objects are moving. We expect to see slower motion? We also should
observe proportionally weaker gravitational force; otherwise the objects will get pulled
together. If we observed faster time, we expect to see faster motion and stronger gravity
to keep the objects from flying apart. While with zero time motion will freeze and gravity
will become zero.
The increase or decrease in strength of gravity is only in relation to our fixed time from
where we are making the observation. From the point of view (time) of the orbiting objects
neither motion nor gravity has changed. As this thought experiment also can be
extended to particles held together by electromagnetic forces we can say that time
involves both motion and forces.
A partial definition of "Time:"
Time is an emergent concept which our mind creates
It is due to the presence of motion and forces in the universe
Time involves all kinds of motion. The spin of particles and the motion of photons are
time dependent. Gravitational force and electromagnetic forces are all part of time. As is
the motion of celestial bodies the atoms and all other motion. We have partially
understood the phenomenon of time. The next step is to find out what is the source of
this motion and forces.
Imagine two objects one moving in orbit around the other in space. Now suppose from
our distant observation point of a fixed time we observe time to get slower in the area
where these two objects are moving. We expect to see slower motion? We also should
observe proportionally weaker gravitational force; otherwise the objects will get pulled
together. If we observed faster time, we expect to see faster motion and stronger gravity
to keep the objects from flying apart. While with zero time motion will freeze and gravity
will become zero.
The increase or decrease in strength of gravity is only in relation to our fixed time from
where we are making the observation. From the point of view (time) of the orbiting objects
neither motion nor gravity has changed. As this thought experiment also can be
extended to particles held together by electromagnetic forces we can say that time
involves both motion and forces.
A partial definition of "Time:"
Time is an emergent concept which our mind creates
It is due to the presence of motion and forces in the universe
Time involves all kinds of motion. The spin of particles and the motion of photons are
time dependent. Gravitational force and electromagnetic forces are all part of time. As is
the motion of celestial bodies the atoms and all other motion. We have partially
understood the phenomenon of time. The next step is to find out what is the source of
this motion and forces.
MC TAGGART AND THE ILLUSION OF TIME
Many philosophers have proposed that passage of time is an illusion. Philosopher John Ellis McTaggart (1908) being one of them. He is
famous for his A, B and C series analysis of time. A brief review is as follows.
The earlier and later aspect of time is basically same as arrow of time. Birth of a person always comes before their death even as these
events become part of distant past. This is a fixed relationship so McTaggart asserts it must be more fundamental to time.
The past present and future aspect of time is constantly changing, future events are moving to present and then into past and then further
back into past. This aspect deals with feeling of flow of time. This constantly changing relationship is also essential to description of time.
McTaggart felt that time is unreal because distinction of past present and future (a changing relationship) is more essential to time then the
fixed relationship of earlier and later.
McTaggart's most interesting observation however is that historical events have same time characteristic as made up stories. For example
made up stories, as well as past historical events have in them, the earlier and the later as well as the past the present and the future, thus
suggesting that past really is more like memory of events and does not exist any more than imagination of a writer.
Many philosophers have proposed that passage of time is an illusion. Philosopher John Ellis McTaggart (1908) being one of them. He is
famous for his A, B and C series analysis of time. A brief review is as follows.
The earlier and later aspect of time is basically same as arrow of time. Birth of a person always comes before their death even as these
events become part of distant past. This is a fixed relationship so McTaggart asserts it must be more fundamental to time.
The past present and future aspect of time is constantly changing, future events are moving to present and then into past and then further
back into past. This aspect deals with feeling of flow of time. This constantly changing relationship is also essential to description of time.
McTaggart felt that time is unreal because distinction of past present and future (a changing relationship) is more essential to time then the
fixed relationship of earlier and later.
McTaggart's most interesting observation however is that historical events have same time characteristic as made up stories. For example
made up stories, as well as past historical events have in them, the earlier and the later as well as the past the present and the future, thus
suggesting that past really is more like memory of events and does not exist any more than imagination of a writer.
| TIME IS PERCEIVED THROUGH MOTION |
In the next few paragraphs I will show that time is an emergent concept. There is an underlaying process of motion and forces from which
time emerges, however what we perceive as time is mostly an illusion. Our memory creates the illusion of the past. Conscious perception of
events gives the feeling of present. Future is a mental construct patterned on memory experience of the past. Concept of time emerges as
our mind tries to make sense of the world around us which is filled with continuous change.
time emerges, however what we perceive as time is mostly an illusion. Our memory creates the illusion of the past. Conscious perception of
events gives the feeling of present. Future is a mental construct patterned on memory experience of the past. Concept of time emerges as
our mind tries to make sense of the world around us which is filled with continuous change.
THERE IS NO BLOCK UNIVERSE
In the block universe view, time exists like a landscape, past, present
and future exist together superimposed in different dimensions.This view
was reinforced by Einstein’s General Relativity in which time extends as
the fourth dimension from the past to the future. Lack of simultaneity in
Einstein's relativity also promotes this view as then we can explain the
Andromeda paradox as an alternative reality existing in a different time
dimension.
"People like us who believe in physics know
that the distinction between the past, the present
and the future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion"
Albert Einstein
This view is being challenged recently by new experimental evidence
on speed of light measurements as well as photon acceleration by
plasmas.
In the block universe view, time exists like a landscape, past, present
and future exist together superimposed in different dimensions.This view
was reinforced by Einstein’s General Relativity in which time extends as
the fourth dimension from the past to the future. Lack of simultaneity in
Einstein's relativity also promotes this view as then we can explain the
Andromeda paradox as an alternative reality existing in a different time
dimension.
"People like us who believe in physics know
that the distinction between the past, the present
and the future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion"
Albert Einstein
This view is being challenged recently by new experimental evidence
on speed of light measurements as well as photon acceleration by
plasmas.
PROBLEMS WITH THE BLOCK UNIVERSE
Block universe theory or the static theory of time presents
a few problems and paradoxes which need to be examined. If
future already exists there cannot be a free will.
Even in the smallest duration of time there should be
infinite number of copies of everything including the
whole universe.
If time-scape is already laid out then what causes us to
perceive these events and what is moving through this
time-scape? Is our consciousness moving across time? What
makes it move and why we cannot willfully move it anywhere
in time?
Block universe theory or the static theory of time presents
a few problems and paradoxes which need to be examined. If
future already exists there cannot be a free will.
Even in the smallest duration of time there should be
infinite number of copies of everything including the
whole universe.
If time-scape is already laid out then what causes us to
perceive these events and what is moving through this
time-scape? Is our consciousness moving across time? What
makes it move and why we cannot willfully move it anywhere
in time?
TIME TRAVEL ?
If concept of block universe is correct then there should
exist future civilizations millions or billions of years more
technologically advanced then us. At least some of them
should be capable of time travel. We should have seen some
evidence for that, unless there is some law of universe which
prohibits time travel.
Then there is the possibility of time travel paradoxes
including the grandfather paradox in which a person travels to
the past and kills his grandfather thereby changing the future
so that the time traveler would not exist and thus not travel to
the past to kill his grandfather.
If concept of block universe is correct then there should
exist future civilizations millions or billions of years more
technologically advanced then us. At least some of them
should be capable of time travel. We should have seen some
evidence for that, unless there is some law of universe which
prohibits time travel.
Then there is the possibility of time travel paradoxes
including the grandfather paradox in which a person travels to
the past and kills his grandfather thereby changing the future
so that the time traveler would not exist and thus not travel to
the past to kill his grandfather.
PRESENT IS AN INFINITESIMAL?
Present is the most real perception of time however almost all of what we perceive
as the present is already past. The present is a fleeting moment, whatever is
happening now (present) is confined to an infinitesimally narrow point on the time
line which is being encroached upon by what we think of as the past and the future.
Present has great resemblance to the sharp recording point of laser or
needle while past being a duration or extension resembles the recorded material
like tape or CD.
Present I believe is mental awareness of the recording of memory into our brain.
A person may go to an event but fall asleep and miss the event completely. So that
event basically does not exist in his past. Unless we are consciously aware of an
event it does not enter our past memory.
Present is the most real perception of time however almost all of what we perceive
as the present is already past. The present is a fleeting moment, whatever is
happening now (present) is confined to an infinitesimally narrow point on the time
line which is being encroached upon by what we think of as the past and the future.
Present has great resemblance to the sharp recording point of laser or
needle while past being a duration or extension resembles the recorded material
like tape or CD.
Present I believe is mental awareness of the recording of memory into our brain.
A person may go to an event but fall asleep and miss the event completely. So that
event basically does not exist in his past. Unless we are consciously aware of an
event it does not enter our past memory.
SUMMARY
There is no Block Universe. Our most real feeling of time "present" is duration less and cannot be measured in units of time. Present being
a sharp point has remarkable resemblance to the recording laser or needle. Past and future which cannot be accessed are measurable
durations just like extensions of a recorded material. Past also has time characteristic of made up stories. This certainly does not mean that
time does not exist, all this suggests is that the way we perceive time is an illusion.
THEN WHAT REALLY IS TIME?
I believe that time is an emergent concept. There is a real phenomenon a continuous change through which we live, however the way we
feel about time is an illusion. To understand time we have to understand the mechanism which brings about this continuous change from
which our mind creates the illusion of time.
Time becomes evident through motion and is measured by comparison with other motions. Sunrise sunsets, night and day, the changing
seasons, the movement of the celestial bodies are all indicative of continuous change. The aging process is a reminder that molecular
motion and interactions are also at work and are a part of time. Other very important aspect of time is presence of motion of particles like
photon and motion at atomic level.
We measure time by comparing the motion of mechanical or electronic clocks with the motion of the celestial bodies. Motion however is just
one feature of time. There are other more subtle aspects which are normally overlooked, for instance forces also operate in time. Let us
perform a thought experiment to understand the phenomenon of time.
There is no Block Universe. Our most real feeling of time "present" is duration less and cannot be measured in units of time. Present being
a sharp point has remarkable resemblance to the recording laser or needle. Past and future which cannot be accessed are measurable
durations just like extensions of a recorded material. Past also has time characteristic of made up stories. This certainly does not mean that
time does not exist, all this suggests is that the way we perceive time is an illusion.
THEN WHAT REALLY IS TIME?
I believe that time is an emergent concept. There is a real phenomenon a continuous change through which we live, however the way we
feel about time is an illusion. To understand time we have to understand the mechanism which brings about this continuous change from
which our mind creates the illusion of time.
Time becomes evident through motion and is measured by comparison with other motions. Sunrise sunsets, night and day, the changing
seasons, the movement of the celestial bodies are all indicative of continuous change. The aging process is a reminder that molecular
motion and interactions are also at work and are a part of time. Other very important aspect of time is presence of motion of particles like
photon and motion at atomic level.
We measure time by comparing the motion of mechanical or electronic clocks with the motion of the celestial bodies. Motion however is just
one feature of time. There are other more subtle aspects which are normally overlooked, for instance forces also operate in time. Let us
perform a thought experiment to understand the phenomenon of time.
PAST AND FUTURE ARE DURATIONS IN TIME
Unlike the present we see past and future as measurable
durations of hour days months and years.
Past historical events, an upcoming meeting, wedding, or other
events are all measurable durations or extensions in time, just
like a recorded material on tape, video recordings, and tracks of
CD or DVD.
This similarity suggests that past is just a recorded memory,
while future is like an unrecorded tape. Future is a projection
created by our past experiences which are stored in our memory.
Unlike the present we see past and future as measurable
durations of hour days months and years.
Past historical events, an upcoming meeting, wedding, or other
events are all measurable durations or extensions in time, just
like a recorded material on tape, video recordings, and tracks of
CD or DVD.
This similarity suggests that past is just a recorded memory,
while future is like an unrecorded tape. Future is a projection
created by our past experiences which are stored in our memory.
