Time: Physical Existence or Perception? Current Opinions

In summary, the concept of time is often compared to spatial distance, but there are key differences in our ability to move freely through it. The reason for this is currently unknown. However, discussions on time tend to be of low quality and attract personal opinions and crackpots. Therefore, this thread will be locked.
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arupel
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I cannot conceive of time as an actual physical existence. What are the current opinions on what time is?
 
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Put simply, time is that which a clock measures in much the same way that spatial distance is that which a ruler measures. The key differences being that we cannot move freely back and forth through time like we can through our spatial dimensions and we cannot be stationary along the time axis. It is currently unknown why this is so.

Unfortunately, past experience has shown that threads on time itself tend to be of poor quality, full of philosophical musings that are unanswerable, and attract personal opinions and crackpots like honey attracts ants, so I'm going to have to lock this thread.
 
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FAQ: Time: Physical Existence or Perception? Current Opinions

1. What is time and how is it defined?

Time is a concept used to measure the duration of events and the intervals between them. It is often defined as the fourth dimension in the universe, along with the three dimensions of space. In physics, time is often measured in seconds.

2. Is time a physical existence or just a perception?

This is still a topic of debate among scientists. Some argue that time is a fundamental part of the physical universe, while others believe it is simply a human construct to make sense of the world. Some theories, such as the theory of relativity, suggest that time is relative and can be perceived differently by different observers.

3. How do current opinions on time differ from those in the past?

In the past, time was often seen as a linear progression with a fixed beginning and end. However, with advancements in physics and our understanding of the universe, current opinions on time have become more complex. Many theories and models, such as the concept of spacetime, have challenged traditional ideas about the nature of time.

4. Can time be manipulated or controlled?

Currently, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that time can be manipulated or controlled in any way. However, some theories, such as time dilation in the theory of relativity, suggest that time can be affected by factors such as gravity and velocity.

5. How does the concept of time relate to the concept of entropy?

In physics, entropy is a measure of the disorder or randomness in a system. The concept of time is closely related to entropy as time is often seen as the progression from order to disorder, or from a state of low entropy to high entropy. This relationship is explored in the second law of thermodynamics.

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