5 ms·

Sean Carroll’s site is a great place to read about this sort of stuff in an accessible way: https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/blog/2016/07/18/space-emerging

• tlogan 2y ago
  The idea that time is emergent is considered unproven by most scientists. However, I personally believe there is some validity to it, even though I haven't found a single paper that convincingly supports this idea. I must admit that even some papers that are widely accepted as accurate are difficult for me to grasp and believe, as they are beyond my understanding and knowledge.
  • Guthur 2y ago
    I'd recommend Henri Bergson's Time and Free Will for mind opening view of time. Imo it elaborates on the distinction between space time and our temporal experience.
    • saintkaye 2y ago
      Does it explain why orangic matter deteriorates and has almost no example where it does not over extended time?
      • neom 2y ago
        Philosophically, one could argue that the distinction between organic and inorganic matter is somewhat arbitrary since, at the most fundamental level, everything is simply matter. If you wanted to go in that direction, it would probably be fair to say something like it deteriorated, simply because it's programmed to. It would also make sense evolution would choose not to change this programming.
      • Guthur 2y ago
        Is it destroyed? does matter some how disappear or is it just it transformed from one form to another? Why did consciousness arise from matter at all, does it disappear or is it transformed. If you only limit yourself to what you can see then existence is rather dull and seemingly mechanically. Every time we look we see little more, and so is there really anything to suggest there is not more beyond what we can or will ever see.
      • Jerrrry 2y ago
        You mean like our own existence? There are also species of animals that literally do not age. The saying that entropy always wins the war is disingenuous as life wins the battles that we can see insofar.
      • entropicdrifter 2y ago
        I don't think you need to constrain that question to organic matter. Entropy applies to all forms of information including the information that organizes all known biological life out of mostly water and carbon.
  • habitmelon 2y ago
    Lee Smolin wrote a good book defending the idea that time is not emergent: https://www.amazon.com/Time-Reborn-Crisis-Physics-Universe/dp/0547511728/ https://www.amazon.com/Time-Reborn-Crisis-Physics-Universe/d... He came up with a framework where time is real (assumed), and then the laws of physics evolve with time, and then goes on to develop an evolutionary theory of universes, where universes reproduce by producing black holes, which spawn baby universes, with slightly different laws of physics. He then predicts that it should tend to produce universes that are optimized to produce black holes.
    • euroderf 2y ago
      Smolin also has interesting things to say about free will.
      • steego 2y ago
        Can you be more specific? He starts with a premise that if time is a real and fundamental feature, then he concludes the future isn’t predetermined. So far, it’s not very interesting.
        • euroderf 2y ago
          The point I heard him speak to is that when you dismiss free will, people start accepting as inevitable the kinds of global, systematic problems that face us, of which climate change is only one. It's an element of human nature.
          • steego 2y ago
            That is an interesting point when you start taking it to different conclusions. For example, It’s funny how often that people who claim to believe in free will often adopt the language of determinism when they say things like: “It was meant to be” Or, “Everything happens for a reason” Personally, I think the general population is just confused and not particularly inquisitive when it comes to asking whether they have free will or whether their actions and language reflect their belief or lack of. I suspect a feeling of determinism probably takes over when one feels like they’re on autopilot and lack a locus of control. Does it correlate with being susceptible to cults, group think and parroting other people’s ideas like a consumer rather than synthesizing your own?
• jahnu 2y ago
  His book From Eternity to Here on the subject of time is one of the very best science trade books I have ever read. It is chock full of end notes too which are a must read so bring two bookmarks to that party :) I suspect though he would take issue with the description “illusion”. An illusion implies a trick, believing something that isn’t real. I think he would say emergent phenomena are real phenomena that we really experience and that time while it might not be fundamental it is very real.