Does spacetime imply fatalism?

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In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of spacetime and its role in determining the future. While spacetime is a useful model for analyzing scenarios, it is not a reflection of reality and cannot be used to make metaphysical claims about the universe. Additionally, the concept of causality is not affected by special relativity and Cauchy surfaces exist in both Galilean relativity and special relativity.
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RisingSun361
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I'm currently reading Relativity: A Very Short Introduction. One part caught my attention:

spacetime2.PNG


Does this mean that the future is already embedded in spacetime?
 
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RisingSun361 said:
Does this mean that the future is already embedded in spacetime?

Only to the extent that the future is determined by the past. Spacetime is a model, not reality. In the model, when we are analyzing scenarios, we simply declare by fiat what the future is; that is, we idealize the situation as one which is perfectly deterministic, and in which we know all of the relevant initial conditions to be able to determine the entire spacetime. In any real situation, we do not have that kind of knowledge; we don't know all the initial conditions, and we don't even know that the universe as a whole is deterministic, because of quantum uncertainty. So we can't use the spacetime model to make metaphysical claims about our actual universe. (Not that that stops a lot of people from trying.)
 
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The word "spacetime" isn't a label for a theory or a true/false statement. It doesn't make predictions or imply anything. The word "fatalism" doesn't have any well-defined meaning that I know of in physics, although you may mean determinism or causality. Causality is a complicated issue in the philosophy of science, but as far as I know special relativity doesn't say anything about causality that is at all different from what Galilean relativity says. A typical physicist's definition of causality is that Cauchy surfaces exist. Cauchy surfaces exist in Galilean relativity, and they also exist in special relativity.
 

FAQ: Does spacetime imply fatalism?

What is spacetime and how does it relate to fatalism?

Spacetime is a concept in physics that describes the fusion of space and time into a single four-dimensional continuum. It is often used in theories of relativity to explain the relationship between space and time. In terms of fatalism, spacetime implies that all events in the past, present, and future are interconnected and predetermined.

Can spacetime be proven to exist?

The existence of spacetime is widely accepted in the scientific community and is supported by numerous experiments and observations, such as the bending of light around massive objects and the slowing of time in high-gravity environments. However, there is still ongoing research and debate about the nature and properties of spacetime.

Does spacetime imply that our actions and choices are predetermined?

This is a highly debated question and there is no clear answer. Some argue that spacetime suggests a deterministic universe where all events are predetermined, while others argue that the concept of free will allows for the possibility of making choices that can alter the course of events.

How does the theory of fatalism fit into modern understandings of spacetime?

Fatalism, the belief that all events are predetermined and inevitable, can be seen as a philosophical interpretation of the concept of spacetime. Some argue that the interconnectedness of all events in spacetime implies a sense of fatalism, while others argue that the concept of free will allows for the possibility of changing one's predetermined fate.

Are there any potential implications of spacetime for the concept of time travel?

The theory of general relativity suggests that time can be affected by gravity, and therefore, in theory, time travel could be possible. However, the concept of spacetime also suggests that all events are predetermined, which raises questions about the possibility of changing the past or future through time travel. This is a topic of ongoing debate and research in both physics and philosophy.

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