Is (our) future already exists, according to relativity?

In summary: This is why some people choose to call themselves "eternalists" because they believe that the block time (or eternal present) is the only possible reality.In summary, eternalism is the philosophy that believes the future is fully and uniquely determined from the past. This is not about relativity, but about classical physics in general.
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Hope this is not a redundant Q.
 
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In all classical physics the future is completely and uniquely determined from the past. You have to be careful using phrases like "already exists" to describe the future, but in what sense would you say that the future does not "already exist" if it is completely and uniquely determined from the past? Remember, this is not about relativity, but about classical physics in general.
 
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Dmitry67 said:
Yes, it is called a "Block Time", or Eternalism.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternalism_(philosophy_of_time)
But this is ultimately a philosophical matter, a physical theory like relativity can't rule out the possibility that there is some metaphysical truth about simultaneity which has no empirical consequences, although relativity will make such a notion less appealing to anyone who favors razor[/url]
 
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DaleSpam said:
In all classical physics the future is completely and uniquely determined from the past. You have to be careful using phrases like "already exists" to describe the future, but in what sense would you say that the future does not "already exist" if it is completely and uniquely determined from the past? Remember, this is not about relativity, but about classical physics in general.
Relativity just says the laws of physics should be Lorentz-symmetric, it doesn't say they couldn't be stochastic (and I think physicists might still call a stochastic theory "classical" if it didn't have some of the other weird features of QM, like violations of Bell's theorem or the measurement problem).
 
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The answer to your question is no, only the "present" exists, that's just plain English. But I think what you mean is "is the future fully determined?" and the answer is, ignoring quantum mechanics, yes.

But this is unsatisfactory. Relativity deals with an unchanging spacetime and you choose an event which you call "myself, here and now" and then relativity will tell you how you will experience things in space and time from that event. But relativity cannot tell you what event you must choose in order to deal with the real (non-hypothetical) world.
 

FAQ: Is (our) future already exists, according to relativity?

What is the theory of relativity?

The theory of relativity was developed by Albert Einstein in the early 20th century and explains the relationship between space and time. It consists of two main theories: special relativity and general relativity. Special relativity deals with objects moving at a constant speed, while general relativity deals with the effects of gravity on space and time.

How does relativity relate to the concept of time?

According to relativity, time is not absolute and can vary depending on the observer's frame of reference. This means that time can pass at different rates for two observers in different frames of reference. This is known as time dilation and has been confirmed through experiments and observations.

Does relativity support the idea of a predetermined future?

No, relativity does not support the idea of a predetermined future. According to relativity, the future is not set in stone and can change based on the actions and interactions of objects in the present. The theory allows for different possible outcomes to exist simultaneously.

Can we travel to the future using relativity?

Yes, according to the theory of relativity, time travel to the future is possible. This is because time passes at different rates for objects in different frames of reference. An object moving at a high speed will experience time passing slower than an object at rest, allowing it to travel into the future. However, traveling back in time is still a topic of debate and has not been proven to be possible.

How does relativity affect our understanding of the universe and our place in it?

Relativity has greatly influenced our understanding of the universe and our place in it. It has shown that space and time are interconnected and can be affected by gravity. It has also provided a better understanding of the behavior of objects at high speeds and in extreme conditions, such as near black holes. Relativity has also led to the development of technologies such as GPS, which rely on the principles of relativity for accurate time measurements.

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