Re: A definition of time.

From: Harry (harald.vanlintel_at_epfl.ch)
Date: 10/27/04 

Date: Wed, 27 Oct 2004 10:31:24 +0200

"AllYou!" <idaman@conversent.net> wrote in message
news:AOSdnZ7b_pF6C-PcRVn-oA@conversent.net...
>
> "Harry" <harald.vanlintel@epfl.ch> wrote in message
> news:417e7997$1@epflnews.epfl.ch...
> >
> > "AllYou!" <idaman@conversent.net> wrote in message
> > news:h9idnYM9H-Jo9-PcRVn-1w@conversent.net...
> > > Time is calculated and not measured. As such, claims that the
so-called
> > > continuum is a space-time one and that time dilates are simply wrong.
> > SNIP
>
> > Although indeed time is related to motion (or progress of motional
> > processes), why do you claim that time is more calculated than for
example
> > distance is? We can count the number of cm between two objects and call
> > 1/100 of it the length; similarly we can count the number of seconds
> between
> > two events and call it the time. I would say that the measurement
> mechanism
> > is more complex and indeed derived from motion, but the measurement
itself
> > is just as straightforward.
>
> More to consider:
>
> Motion has three possible properties: Distance, Velocity, Time. Because
> there is a very definite relationship among the three, two must be
> fundamental and the other establishes the relationship. Also, just like
any
> other phenomena, motion is quantifiable.
>
> So, the question arises..........which two of the three are fundamental?
> There seems to be general agreement that distance is one of the two, so
that
> leaves us with a choice between time and velocity. So let's explore a
> series of questions:

Although I disagree with your claim that counting clock ticks is less a
measurement than counting length units, I do agree that "time" is an
indirect measurement, derived from more fundamental units. It happens to
correspond well to our way of perceiving- IMO that's all there is to it.

Cheers,
Harald

> Which is most easily observed?
> Which can I most readily feel?
> Which can I most readily see?
> Which of the five senses does time stimulate?
> If man did not exist, would velocity?
> If man did not exist, would time?
> Can I create a velocity?
> Can I create a time and know that I'm not using a velocity to do so?
>
> While not all of these questions are simply answered, the preponderance of
> evidence suggests that velocity is clearly the fundamental property.
What's
> more, there is nothing in those answers, or in anything else, to
demonstrate
> that it is not.
>
> But the most telling questions are the last two. I can easily create a
> velocity and establish it as a standard by which I'll compare other
> velocities in order to quantify them. However, there is no way for me to
> create some interval of time which does not use (or which I know for
certain
> does not use) velocity to do so. There is no evidence to support the
notion
> that a duration of time can be established without using motion in the
first
> place. However, there is all the evidence we need to support the notion
> that we can create a velocity on it's own, and that a velocity thus
created,
> together with distance, *is* motion.
>
> Therefore, clearly distance and velocity are fundamental to any motion and
> time is simply the calculated value of that motion.
>

Relevant Pages

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