Physical Time Within Human Time


Book Description

There is a gap between the concept of time in physics and that in neuroscience. Human time is dynamic and involves a dynamic ‘flow,’ whereas physical time is said to be “frozen" as in Einstein’s Block Universe. The result has been a fierce debate as to which time is ‘real’. Our recently accepted paper by Frontiers provides a compromise, dualistic view. The claim is that within the cranium there already exists an overlooked, complete, and independent physical system of time, that is compatible with the essence of modern spacetime cosmology. However, the brain through a process of evolution developed a complementary illusory system that provides a supplementary, more satisfying experience of temporal experiences that leads to better adaptive behavior. The Dualistic Mind View provides evidence that both systems of time exist and are not competitive. Neither need be denigrated.




Physical Forces


Book Description

Questions and answers introduce such physical phenomena as force, motion, magnetism, heat, and sound.




The Physical Basis of The Direction of Time


Book Description

This thoroughly revised 5th edition of Zeh's classic text investigates irreversible phenomena and their foundation in classical, quantum and cosmological settings. It includes new sections on the meaning of probabilities in a cosmological context, irreversible aspects of quantum computers, and various consequences of the expansion of the Universe. In particular, the book offers an analysis of the physical concept of time.




Laws of Physical Time


Book Description

"Physics leaves big questions unanswered. For example, why does time seem to move only from the past toward the future? In fact, there is no good definition of past, present, and future. Experiments show there is no universal "flowing river of time." Is time "the fourth dimension?" Is there a "place" we can visit called "the past?" Is there no unifying theory to join the theories of quantum mechanics and relativity? The nature of time is critical in answering these questions. Physics is not wrong - simply incomplete. More facts have been learned about our universe in the last thirty years than have been learned in all of previous history. Mostly what has been learned is how little we actually know. The nature of time is a good example. This book describes experiments that have proved that gravity, velocity, and acceleration slow time. Analysis shows that (1) perception of distance and time depends on relative velocity, (2) time can slow and stop, (3) time gets really strange near black holes, (4) photons traveling toward each other at the speed of light see the other moving only at the speed of light, due to time effects; and there are other strange effects. The truth is that most time experiment results have no real explanation. In physics there is no good definition for time and no logic foundation for a definition of time - until this book. Enter the new science and technology of time. Here the relatively new sciences of computer technology and communication theory have an important contribution to make. At the heart of the science we find the computer logic of state machines and the physical structure of information as a physical entity. In this world, "state change" is the pivot around which the world turns. We learn that logic is essential for understanding how time works. We discover how state change is essential for the very existence of time! Logic symbols provide a framework for thought about time. We even find a basis for some of the definitions physics has been searching for. We find an information-based state- transition-based definition of time. There is a way to define past, present, and future. In this book we find very compelling motivation for some interesting conclusions. For example, time is essentially the result of state transitions. If nothing happens, there is no evidence of time passing. We find that energy exchange motivates time. There is no experience of time without sequence of events. Could the new science and technology of time be the next leap forward in physics? Many current science writers seem to think so"--




The Physical Basis of The Direction of Time


Book Description

A classic text on irreversibility, and one which clearly distinguishes the latter from time asymmetry. New findings are presented particularly in the chapters on the arrow of time in quantum mechanics and quantum cosmology. Concepts such as decoherence and timelessness are discussed.




Time And Science - Volume 3: Physical Sciences And Cosmology


Book Description

The present volume of Time and Science series is devoted to Physical Sciences and Cosmology. Today more than ever, the question 'is Time an ontological property, a necessary ingredient for the physical description of the world, or a purely epistemological element, relative to our situation in the world?' worry physicists and cosmologists alike. For many of them, Relativity (and particularly General Relativity), as well as its reconciliation with quantum mechanics in the elaboration of a quantum theory of gravitation, points to a negative answer to the first alternative, and leads them to deny the objective reality of time. For others, the answer is nuanced by the evidence of an emerging temporal property when one climbs the scales of the complexity of systems and/or the applicability of the statistical laws of thermodynamics. But for some, the illusion of the unreality of time comes from certain confusions that they denounce, and plead for the re-establishment of time at the heart of physical theories.




Time: Its Structure and Role in Physical Theories


Book Description

This book on the structure and role of time in physical theories addresses itself to scientists and philosophers intereste:'i in the 'no man's lard' between science and philosophy, in particular between physics and philoso phy. The p:lint of departure is physical time, Le. time as usErl 1: physicists in their theories; but the analysis is not oonfined to a purely physical level but caries the problem into the domain of philosophical in quiry. Altoough the book presupp:lses some knowledge of physics, I have avoided, wherever p:lssible, the use of advanced mathematics and technical details. Of all the people woo have been of help in writing this book, I would first of all like to mention Paul Scheurer and Guy Debrock who were my primary mentors in science and philosophy. This sttrly is a revision of my dissertation [Kroes 1982a] which I wrote under the stimulating guidance of Scheurer; many of the ideas ex posed here have their origin in his work and were developErl in frequent discussions with him. Guy Debrock not only stimulated my interest in philosophy but also made valuable suggestions. Witoout any overstatement, I dare say that without their assistence, this book would never have been written. Furthernore, I would like to thank D. Dieks, J.J.C.




Physical Relativity


Book Description

Physical Relativity explores the nature of the distinction at the heart of Einstein's 1905 formulation of his special theory of relativity: that between kinematics and dynamics. Einstein himself became increasingly uncomfortable with this distinction, and with the limitations of what he called the 'principle theory' approach inspired by the logic of thermodynamics. A handful of physicists and philosophers have over the last century likewise expressed doubts about Einstein'streatment of the relativistic behaviour of rigid bodies and clocks in motion in the kinematical part of his great paper, and suggested that the dynamical understanding of length contraction and time dilation intimated by the immediate precursors of Einstein is more fundamental. Harvey Brown both examines andextends these arguments (which support a more 'constructive' approach to relativistic effects in Einstein's terminology), after giving a careful analysis of key features of the pre-history of relativity theory. He argues furthermore that the geometrization of the theory by Minkowski in 1908 brought illumination, but not a causal explanation of relativistic effects. Finally, Brown tries to show that the dynamical interpretation of special relativity defended in the book is consistent with therole this theory must play as a limiting case of Einstein's 1915 theory of gravity: the general theory of relativity.Appearing in the centennial year of Einstein's celebrated paper on special relativity, Physical Relativity is an unusual, critical examination of the way Einstein formulated his theory. It also examines in detail certain specific historical and conceptual issues that have long given rise to debate in both special and general relativity theory, such as the conventionality of simultaneity, the principle of general covariance, and the consistency or otherwise of the special theory withquantum mechanics. Harvey Brown' s new interpretation of relativity theory will interest anyone working on these central topics in modern physics.




Space, Time, and Spacetime


Book Description

Dedicated to the centennial anniversary of Minkowski's discovery of spacetime, this volume contains papers, most presented at the Third International Conference on the Nature and Ontology of Spacetime, that address some of the deepest questions in physics.




Physical Origins of Time Asymmetry


Book Description

We say that the processes going on in the world about us are asymmetric in time or display an arrow of time. Yet this manifest fact of our experience is particularly difficult to explain in terms of the fundamental laws of physics. This volume reconciles these profoundly conflicting facts.