Essay Abstract

The Earth's rotational motion is the fundamental physical mechanism responsible for maintaining our confusion about the nature of time.

Author Bio

Area of study Astronomy and Geography.

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Hi Jim, the choice you offer is black or white. The problem is a little more complex. You have made the assumption that when we consider time it is of just the one kind, 'time is time' so to say. So can only be accepted or rejected. However there is also -'it depends' (on what time is considered to be when answering.), or 'not necessarily'. I do agree with you when you say that "If time does not exist there are no pasts or futures somewhere."that prevents temporal paradox but it does require more to account for non simultaneity of observed events.

I like that your presentation is short. You have raised what you think are the most important fundamental issues and not dragged it out for the sake of it. Time is an extremely important issue. You have expressed your views clearly and reasonably. Personally, I don't think it has merely been the Earth's rotation that has caused confusion to humans but 'time' is a tricky conundrum involving different aspects of the universe and the relations between them, and with us. Kind regards Georgina

    Dear Jim,

    You say that time does not exist, but I think you mean something a bit different - that time is not a dimension like space. I would agree with that.

    Further, you focus on the rotation of the earth as the basis for the perception of time. In fact, the diurnal rhythm is the basis for biological time, and all of our biological clocks are synched to it. The basis for the perception of past and future is in our minds, and does not depend on day and night.

    Physical time is different, and is a parameter in dynamical equations. The treatment of time as a dimension was reinforced by the relativistic concept of 4-dimensional spacetime. In my own essay, I argue that spacetime is an unnecessary mathematical artifact, and that fundamental physical time is based on a rotation of a different sort - rotating vector fields associated with electron spin. Of course, this rotational period is about 10^-20 seconds, rather than a day.

    Best Wishes,

    Alan

    4 days later

    Dear Jim George Snowdon,

    You wrote: "We are inclined by nature to assume that time exists, as the result of being immersed in the Earth`s rotational motion."

    I have concluded from my deep research that Nature must have devised the only permanent real structure of the Universe obtainable for the real Universe existed for millions of years before man and his finite complex informational systems ever appeared on earth. The real physical Universe consists only of one single unified VISIBLE infinite surface occurring eternally in one single infinite dimension that am always illuminated mostly by finite non-surface light.

    Joe Fisher, ORCID ID 0000-0003-3988-8687. Unaffiliated

    10 days later

    Hi Jim George Snowdon

    You say time does not exist dear Jim George Snowdon, you are exactly correct. I feel time in nothing but our memories of the past, assumptions about future..... only today exists.... Nice treatment.... So for a change have a look at my essay also..................

    Dynamic Universe Model says that the energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation passing grazingly near any gravitating mass changes its in frequency and finally will convert into neutrinos (mass). We all know that there is no experiment or quest in this direction. Energy conversion happens from mass to energy with the famous E=mC2, the other side of this conversion was not thought off. This is a new fundamental prediction by Dynamic Universe Model, a foundational quest in the area of Astrophysics and Cosmology.

    In accordance with Dynamic Universe Model frequency shift happens on both the sides of spectrum when any electromagnetic radiation passes grazingly near gravitating mass. With this new verification, we will open a new frontier that will unlock a way for formation of the basis for continual Nucleosynthesis (continuous formation of elements) in our Universe. Amount of frequency shift will depend on relative velocity difference. All the papers of author can be downloaded from "http://vaksdynamicuniversemodel.blogspot.in/ "

    By the way.....................

    Main foundational points of Dynamic Universe Model :

    -No Isotropy

    -No Homogeneity

    -No Space-time continuum

    -Non-uniform density of matter, universe is lumpy

    -No singularities

    -No collisions between bodies

    -No blackholes

    -No warm holes

    -No Bigbang

    -No repulsion between distant Galaxies

    -Non-empty Universe

    -No imaginary or negative time axis

    -No imaginary X, Y, Z axes

    -No differential and Integral Equations mathematically

    -No General Relativity and Model does not reduce to GR on any condition

    -No Creation of matter like Bigbang or steady-state models

    -No many mini Bigbangs

    -No Missing Mass / Dark matter

    -No Dark energy

    -No Bigbang generated CMB detected

    -No Multi-verses

    Here:

    -Accelerating Expanding universe with 33% Blue shifted Galaxies

    -Newton's Gravitation law works everywhere in the same way

    -All bodies dynamically moving

    -All bodies move in dynamic Equilibrium

    -Closed universe model no light or bodies will go away from universe

    -Single Universe no baby universes

    -Time is linear as observed on earth, moving forward only

    -Independent x,y,z coordinate axes and Time axis no interdependencies between axes..

    -UGF (Universal Gravitational Force) calculated on every point-mass

    -Tensors (Linear) used for giving UNIQUE solutions for each time step

    -Uses everyday physics as achievable by engineering

    -21000 linear equations are used in an Excel sheet

    -Computerized calculations uses 16 decimal digit accuracy

    -Data mining and data warehousing techniques are used for data extraction from large amounts of data.

    Have a look at

    http://vaksdynamicuniversemodel.blogspot.in/p/blog-page_15.h

    tml

    Best Regards

    =snp

    Jim, you're good, I appreciate your essay for what you said to those who think that time is fundamental, that it is not. Fundamental is the moment between the past and the future and which is life. I'll give you a rating after your comment in my essay, in which I argue that space is a matter that we do not see, but which is. Sincerely, Dizhechko Boris Semyonovich.

    Dear Fellow Essayists

    This will be my final plea for fair treatment.,

    FQXI is clearly seeking to find out if there is a fundamental REALITY.

    Reliable evidence exists that proves that the surface of the earth was formed millions of years before man and his utterly complex finite informational systems ever appeared on that surface. It logically follows that Nature must have permanently devised the only single physical construct of earth allowable.

    All objects, be they solid, liquid, or vaporous have always had a visible surface. This is because the real Universe must consist only of one single unified VISIBLE infinite surface occurring eternally in one single infinite dimension that am always illuminated mostly by finite non-surface light.

    Only the truth can set you free.

    Joe Fisher, Realist

    Jim,

    Love it! Strangely close to may own essays foundation of simply 'motion' mainly rotational. I hope you get to read it as the consequences are quite sensational.

    Rather too brief, but you got the point across with clarity, and with some highlights none the less;

    "Our clocks do not actually measure time passing, our clocks measure duration elapsing". ...and

    " there is no possible time travel, since there would be no other times to travel to.

    Thank god (whoever he is!) for clear vision and common sense.

    Best

    Peter

      21 days later

      Dear Jim

      If you are looking for another essay to read and rate in the final days of the contest, will you consider mine please?

      A couple of days in and semblance of my essay taking form, however the house bound inactivity was wearing me. I had just the remedy, so took off for a solo sail across the bay. In the lea of cove, I had underestimated the open water wind strengths. My sail area overpowered. Ordinarily I would have reduced sail, but this day I felt differently. My contemplations were on the forces of nature, and I was ventured seaward increasingly amongst them. As the wind and the waves rose, my boat came under strain, but I was exhilarated. All the while I considered, how might I communicate the role of natural forces in understanding of the world around us. For they are surely it's central theme.

      Beyond my essay's introduction, I place a microscope on the subjects of universal complexity and natural forces. I do so within context that clock operation is driven by Quantum Mechanical forces (atomic and photonic), while clocks also serve measure of General Relativity's effects (spacetime, time dilation). In this respect clocks can be said to possess a split personality, giving them the distinction that they are simultaneously a study in QM, while GR is a study of clocks. The situation stands whereby we have two fundamental theories of the world, but just one world. And we have a singular device which serves study of both those fundamental theories. Two fundamental theories, but one device? Please join me in questioning this circumstance?

      My essay goes on to identify natural forces in their universal roles, how they motivate the building of and maintaining complex universal structures and processes. When we look at how star fusion processes sit within a "narrow range of sensitivity" that stars are neither led to explode nor collapse under gravity. We think how lucky we are that the universe is just so. We can also count our lucky stars that the fusion process that marks the birth of a star, also leads to an eruption of photons from its surface. for if they didn't then nebula gas accumulation wouldn't be halted and the star would again be led to collapse.

      Could a natural organisation principle have been responsible for fine tuning universal systems? Faced with how lucky we appear to have been, shouldn't we consider this possibility?

      For our luck surely didnt run out there, for these photons stream down on earth, liquifying oceans which drive geochemical processes that we "life" are reliant upon. The Earth is made up of elements that possess the chemical potentials that life is entirely dependent upon. Those chemical potentials are not expressed in the absence of water solvency. So again, how amazingly fortunate we are that these chemical potentials exist in the first instance, and additionally within an environment of abundant water solvency such as Earth, able to express these potentials.

      My essay is an attempt at something audacious. It questions the fundamental nature of the interaction between space and matter Guv = Tuv, and hypothesizes the equality between space curvature and atomic forces is due to common process. Space gives up an energy potential in exchange for atomic forces in a conversion process, which drives atomic activity. And furthermore, that Baryons only exist because this energy potential of space exists, and is available for exploitation. Baryon characteristics and behaviours, complexity of structure and process might then be explained in terms of being evolved and optimised for this purpose and existence. Removing need for so many layers of extraordinary luck to eventuate our own existence. It attempts an interpretation of the above mentioned stellar processes within these terms, but also extends much further. It shines a light on molecular structure that binds matter together, as potentially being an evolved agency that enhances rigidity and therefor persistence of universal system. We then turn a questioning mind towards Earths unlikely geochemical processes, (for which we living things owe so much) and look at its central theme and propensity for molecular rock forming processes. The existence of chemical potentials and their diverse range of molecular bond forming activities? The abundance of water solvent on Earth, for which many geochemical rock forming processes could not be expressed without? The question of a watery Earth? is then implicated as being part of an evolved system that arose for purpose and reason, alongside the same reason and purpose that molecular bonds and chemical process arose.

      By identifying process whereby atomic forces draw a potential from space, we have identified means for their perpetual action, and their ability to deliver perpetual work. Forces drive clocks and clock activity is shown by GR to dilate. My essay details the principle of force dilation and applies it to a universal mystery. My essay raises the possibility, that nature in possession of a natural energy potential, will spontaneously generate a circumstance of Darwinian emergence. It did so on Earth, and perhaps it did so within a wider scope. We learnt how biology generates intricate structure and complexity, and now we learn how it might apply for intricate structure and complexity within universal physical systems.

      To steal a phrase from my essay "A world product of evolved optimization".

      Best of luck for the conclusion of the contest

      Kind regards

      Steven Andresen

      Darwinian Universal Fundamental Origin

      4 days later

      Hi Peter,

      I am going to frame your comment and hang it on my wall! Thank you for your generous remarks!

      Hi Georgina,

      I`m glad to hear that you found the choice "black or white". I worked at making it so.

      Yes, I "made the assumption that when we consider time it is of just the one kind, `time is time` so to say."

      I`m also glad that you liked that the presentation is short. Brevity seemed the best path towards clarity. As you said, I ...."raised what you think are the most important fundamental issues and not dragged it out for the sake of it."

      Thank you especially for this quote, "You have expressed your views clearly and reasonably."

      Thank you for your generous comments.

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