The Order of Time

1. Time is not universal, but relative and variable

There is no single time: there is a different duration for every trajectory; and time passes at different rhythms according to place and according to speed.

Time is relative. Einstein's theory of relativity revealed that time is not a fixed, universal constant. Instead, it varies based on factors such as gravity and velocity. For example:

• Time passes more slowly near massive objects due to gravitational time dilation
• Time moves more slowly for objects traveling at high speeds due to special relativity
• Clocks on satellites orbiting Earth tick slightly faster than those on the ground

This means that the passage of time is not uniform throughout the universe. Two observers in different reference frames may experience time differently, challenging our intuitive understanding of a single, universal "now."

2. The present moment is not a universal concept

A present that is common throughout the whole universe does not exist. Events are not ordered in pasts, presents, and futures; they are only "partially" ordered.

The "now" is local. The idea of a universal present moment across the entire universe is an illusion. In reality:

• The present is a localized phenomenon, extending only to our immediate surroundings
• Events that appear simultaneous to one observer may not be simultaneous to another
• The concept of "now" breaks down at cosmic scales due to the finite speed of light

This realization fundamentally changes our understanding of the universe's structure. Instead of a series of universal "now" moments, we have a complex web of partially ordered events, interconnected but without a single, objective timeline.

3. Past and future distinction emerges from entropy

The entire difference between past and future may be attributed solely to the fact that the entropy of the world was low in the past.

Entropy defines time's arrow. The distinction between past and future is not inherent in the fundamental laws of physics, which are time-symmetric. Instead, it emerges from the statistical behavior of large systems, governed by the second law of thermodynamics. Key points:

• Entropy, a measure of disorder, tends to increase over time
• The past appears more ordered (lower entropy) than the future
• This asymmetry gives rise to our perception of time's direction

The arrow of time we experience is thus a consequence of the universe's initial low-entropy state, rather than a fundamental property of reality itself.

4. The world is made of events, not things

The world is not a collection of things, it is a collection of events.

Reality is processual. Our intuitive view of the world as composed of enduring objects is an approximation. At a deeper level, reality consists of interconnected events and processes. This shift in perspective has profound implications:

• Objects are better understood as long-lasting events or processes
• The fundamental constituents of reality are interactions, not static entities
• This view aligns better with modern physics, including quantum mechanics and relativity

Embracing this event-based ontology helps reconcile our everyday experience with the counterintuitive insights of contemporary science, providing a more accurate picture of the universe's nature.

5. Time emerges from our perspective and interactions

Perhaps the flow of time is not a characteristic of the universe: like the rotation of the heavens, it is due to the particular perspective that we have from our corner of it.

Time is perspectival. The flow of time as we experience it may not be an intrinsic feature of the universe, but rather an emergent phenomenon arising from our particular viewpoint and interactions with the world. Consider:

• Our perception of time is shaped by the specific physical systems we are part of
• The direction of time may be related to our limited, "blurred" view of reality
• Time could be analogous to other perspectival phenomena, like the apparent rotation of the sky

This suggests that our experience of time's flow is not a universal truth, but a consequence of our position within the cosmos and the nature of our interactions with it.

6. Memory and anticipation shape our experience of time

We are histories of ourselves, narratives. I am my thoughts full of the traces of the phrases that I am writing; I am my mother's caresses, and the serene kindness with which my father calmly guided me; I am my adolescent travels; I am what my reading has deposited in layers in my mind; I am my loves, my moments of despair, my friendships, what I've written, what I've heard; the faces engraved on my memory.

Time is woven into our identity. Our experience of time is intimately connected to our sense of self, shaped by memory and anticipation. This interplay creates our subjective sense of temporal continuity:

• Memory allows us to construct a narrative of our past
• Anticipation enables us to project ourselves into potential futures
• The interplay between past, present, and future creates our sense of ongoing identity

This perspective highlights how deeply time is embedded in our consciousness and self-perception, suggesting that our experience of time is as much a psychological phenomenon as a physical one.

7. Entropy drives the universe, not energy

It is entropy, not energy, that keeps stones on the ground and the world turning.

Entropy is the cosmic engine. While we often think of energy as the driving force of the universe, it's actually the increase in entropy that propels cosmic evolution and everyday phenomena. Key insights:

• Energy is conserved, but entropy always increases in closed systems
• The flow from low to high entropy enables processes and changes in the universe
• Even simple phenomena like objects falling are ultimately driven by entropy increase

This perspective shift helps explain why the universe evolves and changes over time, despite the conservation of energy, and underscores the fundamental role of entropy in shaping reality.

8. Our identity is shaped by memory and temporal perspective

We are processes, events, composite and limited in space and time. But if we are not an individual entity, what is it that founds our identity and its unity?

Identity is dynamic. Our sense of self is not a fixed, unchanging essence, but a dynamic process shaped by our experience of time and memory. This view of identity has several implications:

• We are more like stories or narratives than static entities
• Our identity is continually reconstructed through memory and anticipation
• Our sense of self emerges from our interactions with the world and others

This understanding of identity as a temporal process aligns with both modern psychology and the event-based ontology of contemporary physics, offering a more nuanced view of what it means to be a person.

9. Time may be an effect of our limited perception

Time has loosened into a network of relations that no longer holds together as a coherent canvas.

Time's coherence is illusory. Our everyday experience of time as a smooth, continuous flow may be an artifact of our limited perception. At a fundamental level, time appears to be:

• A complex network of relations between events
• Not a single, universal dimension but a multitude of local phenomena
• Possibly emergent from quantum-level interactions and our macroscopic perspective

This suggests that our intuitive understanding of time may be a useful approximation rather than an accurate reflection of reality's underlying structure.

10. Understanding time leads us back to ourselves

To understand ourselves means to reflect on time. But to understand time we need to reflect on ourselves.

Time and self are intertwined. The quest to understand the nature of time ultimately leads us to examine our own consciousness and perception. This circular relationship reveals:

• Our experience of time is deeply connected to our sense of self
• Understanding time requires us to consider how we, as conscious beings, interact with the world
• The study of time bridges physics, philosophy, and psychology

This insight suggests that a complete understanding of time may require not just physics, but a holistic approach that includes the study of consciousness and human experience.

Last updated: August 23, 2024