Q&A with Paul Davies: What is Time?

I'snt it experienced more like standing blindfolded in the water seeing neither the future approaching or the past behind but just feeling the water around the ankles in the present? Then I question whether there is a future and a past or just the -Now of the water stimulating the sensory receptors on my skin. Then after the signal reaching my brain and being processed into sensation, experiencing that as my present within the -Now, in which the water is still stimulating my skin as yet un-felt.

The key to understanding time is in understanding objects. Objects are both the fossil record of past matter action as well as the matter action of the present moment. There is no way to understand objects without both dimensions of time...

Time does not exist as a thing or force in reality.

Space/time is really space/nothing. Real things exist, they endure, they happen. We consciously engage with what happens.

In the sense that one can say there is only the `now`, one can say there is only the `nothing`. We do have motion in our timeless Universe.

The title of my short essay in the first essay contest is `Things Happen`.

Time has only a mathematical existence.

Time travel are out of question.

One can travel in space only.

time has only a mathematical existence, change run in a timeless quantum vacuum there is always NOW.

see file attached

We are permanently in the `now`. Everything that has ever happened, happened in the `now`. Remnants of all those happenings are still here with us, in the `now`. While it seems difficult to disprove time exists, it`s possible to prove it`s unnecessary, and not foundational.

The Physics of NOW - where time has only a mathematical existence.Attachment #1: 1_The_Physics_of_NOW.pdf

Jim, Amrit et al., Peter J you may have something to say as well,

Concerning this enduring but interesting mental agitation about Time and the physics of 'NOW', it appears mathematics cannot save us. In my opinion what will save us is dialectic, discussing all the possibilities and reductio ad absurdum type arguments.

Jim says, "We are permanently in the `now`", "We have motion in our timeless Universe.."

And I ask, if you are permanently in your NOW and tomorrow moves and comes to meet you where you are, how is this to be described? Has time flowed?

How is this to be differentiated mathematically and philosophically from you leaving your Now and meeting tomorrow?

These appear to be the bones of contention. I may be wrong.

Akinbo

*Jim, will take a look at your essay soon and comment if I can make sense of it.

Georgina, thanks for sharing your thoughts. Call it an illusion or whatever name, it is a very persistent one as Einstein says. From your response, firstly you have a name for what you claim doesn't exist. Second, I am sure you have told someone today, (the Now), "goodnight and see you tomorrow". Why do you say this of what you know does not exist? Third, when you say, "Time has not flowed but the configuration or arrangement of the Object universe has changed", what does it mean for arrangement to change? If arrangement does not change is there no sense in wondering 'how long' an arrangement has remained unchanged? If the Earth stops spinning does that make Time come to a stop just because nights (or days) become permanently so?

I agree "There is no time dimension in that reality but we can imagine a time line along which events are spread". It would appear that without 'events' there would be no timeline. And it also appears that without 'motion' there can be no 'events'. And 'motion' implies 'change of place', bringing space (place) into the picture.

Finally, when you say (rephrasing), "When tomorrow comes into being it is - Now", what does 'comes' mean? In ordinary language motion is implied, can something that doesn't exist move?

While understanding your position, I still view this as a difficult topic.

Regards,

Akinbo

Akinbo,

I have no 'mental agitation' about time, until I have to understand how others can ascribe qualities to it only applicable to entities.

To me it's clear than such qualities may only be applied only to 'signals', some of which are emitted by metronomic mechanisms we've decided to call "clocks". All 'signals' may be changed after emission, but how we can imagine that changes the mechanisms emission rate is quite beyond me. Fluctuations are either focussed or propagate spherically.

It seems more misleading still to imagine some 'entity' called time and ascribing terms like 'flow', 'dilation', 'motion', 'direction', 'curvature' or 'arrow'. Only once we separate emitted 'signal' fluctuations from the metaphysical 'concept' do I find our rational understanding of nature, motion and 'change' can significantly advance.

I believe Amrit takes the same simple logical position.

I wonder if other creatures (whose planet may rotate and orbit faster or slower than ours, and have divided those durations into equal periods of 'Glurg') may also cling on to the ancient and misleading concepts and beliefs which so many of us seem to. I somehow doubt even if any other creatures ON this planet have any 'mental agitation' about it!

Best wishes

Peter

Hi Akinbo,

You asked, "Has time flowed?"

In our conscious experiencing of duration elapsing, we assume that time is passing.

Please see my initial post, immediately above, that is dated February 25th, 2,014.

Thank you for your questions Akinbo.

1. Yes the imagined future has names. It is not a prerequisite that something actually exist for it to have a name. Unicorns are imaginary things with a name. 2. Morrow is an old English word for morning so I imagine tomorrow means the morning that we are "going to". I will see you tomorrow does not mean I will see you tomorrow but next today, morning. I actually think Nexttoday is a better name.

3.Rethinking a Key Assumption About the Nature of Time by J. C. N. Smith We can superimpose a temporal view point on to a material change. Lets say an egg has gone from raw to cooked with solid white and runny yolk.The pan of water has gone from cold to just boiling. The two material changes can be correlated. that is how I cook boiled eggs. It might also be done this way. The egg will be cooked as before but instead of comparing the state of the water I will compare the position of the hands on a clock. Now I can say the egg will be cooked when 3 minutes have elapsed on the clock. ( I think that's about right, I never use that method.) It is comparison of change that is being used in both methods not actually the flow of time though you and I could call it that and know what we mean.

If the Earth stopped spinning there wouldn't be days and nights, so if its night , to morrow or next morning would not arrive, messing up calender time but there would still be other measurable changes occurring. So change in configuration of the Object universe, "passage of time", has not stopped.

"Comes into being" is just a turn of phrase. I mean when the configuration of nexttoday exists it isn't tomorrow it is today. It doesn't exist as tomorrow except in our minds.

All of these different words about time seem to be saying pretty much the same thing. The Smith essay argues that time flows since the universe evolves and that is somehow a different explanation from a time that is what clocks measure or a blocktime.

It always seems to me that defining a moment of time, i.e., what now means, is very important. You must avoid the knife edge of an infinitely divisible moment resulting in an infinity of moments. As soon as you have a finite moment, it doesn't matter what word you use for it.

An operational definition of time is what clocks measure, just as in Smith's essay, but the complete definition of time is embedded in the fossil record of each and every object of the universe. Time is not only the evolution of the universe, a flow, but time is in the evolution of each object as the flow of time moments.

Thus, although time is continuous, matter is not. Matter objects are discrete lumps of matter and the size of those lumps defines a moment of matter and a moment of time. What we call clocks are objects with very regular matter moments that accumulate into an object like a second. A second only has meaning as an amount of matter and each object in the universe is made up of the same concept of time.

Georgina, I actually gave your response further thought and I kind of agree about, "configuration or arrangement of the Object universe has changed". Perhaps, if we know why or what causes configuration or arrangement to change we can apprehend time wherever it may be hiding. That is if it exists.

Akinbo

Time is duration of motion in timeless space.

Dear Akinbo, (Steve, Georgina, Jim, Amrit, et al Hi :)

I don't always join discussions like this but yours seem to be sensible and open minded. I came across your discussion because I have entered 3 videos in the FQXI "Show Me the Physics" on this site, and they are all about "time", or more accurately "the possibility that we may be completely wrong to assume something like "time" exists in anyway at all".

(e.g. "Does Time exist? How 'Time travel Paradoxes' can't happen without "the past". "

On that matter, Akinbo, you suggest a dialectic ("discussing all the possibilities and reductio ad absurdum type arguments."), and I think you are very much on the right track, and have written the book 'A Brief History of Timelessness', in that format - i.e. a (imo) very thorough investigation of the truth of opinions re the theory that a thing called time may exist.

However, (with respect), to varying degrees you each may have 'automatically' incorporated a critical error in to the discussion, from the very outset, making it (imo) impossible to resolve unless the (possible) error is seen, and very carefully considered.

Fundamentally, the error may be that you are sure you are discussing to some degree at least, "a thing called time", and, trying to work out what "it" is...

The problem being, if "it", is absolutely nothing, (other than a useful idea), then even where the conversation gets close to seeing how the theory of "time" may be completely unfounded, people try to explain and describe this... in terms of a thing called "time". (i.e. there seems to be an ingrained assumption, which just won't quit).

Can I suggest therefore that you start any dialectic with a mind free from every rumor or theory you know, and starting from the most basic observations of what you in actual fact, actually, directly observe.

I would suggest that what we seem to actually and only observe is...

1- that matter exists, and,

2- matter is able to move, interact and change.

What I would also suggest is movement, change and interactions only happen where there is energy/momentum present, and they happen in essentially simple physical ways e.g. as a bowling ball hits some pins ( as a large scale example).

But... what , in my opinion, as things are existing and moving etc, we do not observe in any way at all that there is also a thing called "time" that exists, and is needed for, or part of, motion etc.

i.e. despite hearsay and opinion, I personally do not see anything "come out of a future", or "disappear into a past", or extra to energy "need an intangible thing called 'time' to be happening".

- And therefore, if you want the conversation to be scientific, and logical, I would suggest it is invalid for anyone to "just" use terms like "time, or "the past" or "the future", without providing a clear explanation of exactly what they think they are talking about - and - detailing a scientific experiment , as per the scientific method , that they think proves the existence of the "thing" they think needs explaining or incorporating into our understanding of the world.

(this complete lack of science , by the scientific community, re the apparent subject of "time" , is what I call "the elephant in the room, wearing the emperor's new robe", - i.e. its amazing that so many experts are happy to talk about something no one can see or describe, and ignore the fact no experiments exist to prove any aspect of it : )

( this (with respect Georgina : ) may avoid confusions like

"Tomorrow doesn't move Akinbo it doesn't exist. When it comes into being it is -Now."

as - "the term Tomorrow is useful but(unless prove to exist), scientifically, completely invalid - the sun is emitting light, and the earth IS spinning, and we may be constructing thoughts about how the universe IS, and calling them thoughts about a place or thing called 'Tomorrow'.

But for the sun to shine, and the earth to spin, and for us to have any thoughts , or label them in any way (imo) proves only that matter exists and can interact.

To expect there to be a valid explanation for a term like "tomorrow", the questioner would have to define what this thing "is", and provide reasonable proof that it exists, and justifies explanation, or incorporation into any understanding of the world )

The key thing to consider here, imo, is that part of the matter that exists, moves and changes in the universe, is of course, the physical matter that make up ourselves and our minds.

If we consider very fully, and carefully how every single "memory" we have, is in fact something that just exists, and thus proves only that matter exists, and can be in stable (or unstable) formations - then we may see how - (no matter how strongly we may feel otherwise), the patterns we "call" , memories of "the past"...

1- do show that matter exists and can form stable formations in our minds...but

2- do not show in any way at all that there is a thing called "time" - OR - that there is a thing or placed called "the temporal past" - or "the temporal future".

In short (Akinbo), if you wish to have a valid dialectic, it might be worth you considering what I call (in abh Timelessness) the Key Question, specifically.

"If the universe is just filled with matter moving, changing, and interacting, including the matter in our own minds, would this be enough to mislead us into thinking 'a past', and thus 'time' exist"?

Or to put it another (falsifiable) way, "Can you produce an experiment to show that matter does NOT just exist, move and interact etc (but also needs a thing called time) ?"

All the best,

not quite sure how links work here, I`ll post some separately also to the FQXI videos, in case anyone's interested.

Matthew Marsden

(auth "A Brief History of Timelessness")

link:http://fqxi.org/community/forum/topic/2245]"Does Time exist? How 'Time travel Paradoxes' can't happen without "the past". "[/link]

(please post video comments on the FQXI site

(couldn't see where original response went, so added it to main stream, links to follow , m.m.)

Dear Akinbo, (Steve, Georgina, Jim, Amrit, et al Hi :)

I don't always join discussions like this but yours seem to be sensible and open minded. I came across your discussion because I have entered 3 videos in the FQXI "Show Me the Physics" on this site, and they are all about "time", or more accurately "the possibility that we may be completely wrong to assume something like "time" exists in anyway at all".

(e.g. "Does Time exist? How 'Time travel Paradoxes' can't happen without "the past". "

On that matter, Akinbo, you suggest a dialectic ("discussing all the possibilities and reductio ad absurdum type arguments."), and I think you are very much on the right track, and have written the book 'A Brief History of Timelessness', in that format - i.e. a (imo) very thorough investigation of the truth of opinions re the theory that a thing called time may exist.

However, (with respect), to varying degrees you each may have 'automatically' incorporated a critical error in to the discussion, from the very outset, making it (imo) impossible to resolve unless the (possible) error is seen, and very carefully considered.

Fundamentally, the error may be that you are sure you are discussing to some degree at least, "a thing called time", and, trying to work out what "it" is...

The problem being, if "it", is absolutely nothing, (other than a useful idea), then even where the conversation gets close to seeing how the theory of "time" may be completely unfounded, people try to explain and describe this... in terms of a thing called "time". (i.e. there seems to be an ingrained assumption, which just won't quit).

Can I suggest therefore that you start any dialectic with a mind free from every rumor or theory you know, and starting from the most basic observations of what you in actual fact, actually, directly observe.

I would suggest that what we seem to actually and only observe is...

1- that matter exists, and,

2- matter is able to move, interact and change.

What I would also suggest is movement, change and interactions only happen where there is energy/momentum present, and they happen in essentially simple physical ways e.g. as a bowling ball hits some pins ( as a large scale example).

But... what , in my opinion, as things are existing and moving etc, we do not observe in any way at all that there is also a thing called "time" that exists, and is needed for, or part of, motion etc.

i.e. despite hearsay and opinion, I personally do not see anything "come out of a future", or "disappear into a past", or extra to energy "need an intangible thing called 'time' to be happening".

- And therefore, if you want the conversation to be scientific, and logical, I would suggest it is invalid for anyone to "just" use terms like "time, or "the past" or "the future", without providing a clear explanation of exactly what they think they are talking about - and - detailing a scientific experiment , as per the scientific method , that they think proves the existence of the "thing" they think needs explaining or incorporating into our understanding of the world.

(this complete lack of science , by the scientific community, re the apparent subject of "time" , is what I call "the elephant in the room, wearing the emperor's new robe", - i.e. its amazing that so many experts are happy to talk about something no one can see or describe, and ignore the fact no experiments exist to prove any aspect of it : )

( this (with respect Georgina : ) may avoid confusions like

"Tomorrow doesn't move Akinbo it doesn't exist. When it comes into being it is -Now."

as - "the term Tomorrow is useful but(unless prove to exist), scientifically, completely invalid - the sun is emitting light, and the earth IS spinning, and we may be constructing thoughts about how the universe IS, and calling them thoughts about a place or thing called 'Tomorrow'.

But for the sun to shine, and the earth to spin, and for us to have any thoughts , or label them in any way (imo) proves only that matter exists and can interact.

To expect there to be a valid explanation for a term like "tomorrow", the questioner would have to define what this thing "is", and provide reasonable proof that it exists, and justifies explanation, or incorporation into any understanding of the world )

The key thing to consider here, imo, is that part of the matter that exists, moves and changes in the universe, is of course, the physical matter that make up ourselves and our minds.

If we consider very fully, and carefully how every single "memory" we have, is in fact something that just exists, and thus proves only that matter exists, and can be in stable (or unstable) formations - then we may see how - (no matter how strongly we may feel otherwise), the patterns we "call" , memories of "the past"...

1- do show that matter exists and can form stable formations in our minds...but

2- do not show in any way at all that there is a thing called "time" - OR - that there is a thing or placed called "the temporal past" - or "the temporal future".

In short (Akinbo), if you wish to have a valid dialectic, it might be worth you considering what I call (in abh Timelessness) the Key Question, specifically.

"If the universe is just filled with matter moving, changing, and interacting, including the matter in our own minds, would this be enough to mislead us into thinking 'a past', and thus 'time' exist"?

Or to put it another (falsifiable) way, "Can you produce an experiment to show that matter does NOT just exist, move and interact etc (but also needs a thing called time) ?"

All the best,

not quite sure how links work here, I`ll post some separately also to the FQXI videos, in case anyone's interested.

Matthew Marsden

(auth "A Brief History of Timelessness")

link:http://fqxi.org/community/forum/topic/2245]"Does Time exist? How 'Time travel Paradoxes' can't happen without "the past". "[/link]

(please post video comments on the FQXI site