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Does Time Exist?

bigthink.com

31–40 of 73 posts

Re: Does Time Exist?

#31
post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Velocity is real, distance is real, time is how we've decided to describe their relation. Physically and philosophically, the "idea of time" isn't real. It just helps us describe our reality.

velocity is defined as distance over unit time so I’m not sure how you square that circle

Semantics but velocity being a measurement of somethings movement through a distance is exactly what I'm saying time is. I've stated that we use time to describe stuff, like velocity. But "time" as a physical property like gravity does not exist.

Re: Does Time Exist?

#34
I'll ask another one: Does it matter, whether time exists? If we go with the idea, that time merely describes a number state changes of the universe, then it might not matter, whether time actually exists.

Re: Does Time Exist?

#36
post #10

To me it's pretty intuitive that time isn't real (outside of being a concept). We just use time as an elaborate way to explain our movement through distances (and how fast or slow we cover those distances), that's about it. The twin paradox[1] does a good job of explaining this. There's no discernable difference between today and lets say, arbitrarily, 1984. The only difference is our movement through that spatial di…

Agreed! In my mind, to go back in time is to put all particles or whatever fundamental components back in the same place and state as they were previously. Thus, that would include the particles that make up you as well. How would you ever do that and if you did, how would you notice and is it really the past or just now with a replicated state?

perhaps if there is order to the expansion of the universe and all its things you could contract it and theoretically cause all particles to shift back to their older states. i guess noticing is dependant on how much our consciousness is coupled to the physical

Re: Does Time Exist?

#37
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Given that the speed of light directly relates time and distance in (to the best of our extremely precise measurements to date) an absolute manner, then if time doesn't exist, neither does distance. Also, as TFA mentions any dismissal of time as a concept must also deal with thermodynamics.

The speed of light is still just the movement of something over a measured distance.

c is the render speed of god's GPU

Re: Does Time Exist?

#40
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As I approach 40, a year feels about as long as a month did when I was elementary-school aged. I worry that if the current rate-of-increase continues, my last decade will feel weeks long.

I think the answer to this is to do more interesting things on a regular basis. If every weekend you do something different, then the month feels longer than when you stay home every weekend.

Saw someone wearing this T-shirt at a 10k race:

"Life is short. Running makes it seem longer."

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