Time is the Simplest (and Strongest) Thing
Access status:
Open Access
Type
PresentationAuthor/s
Callender, CraigAbstract
What is the difference between time and space? This paper proposes an answer: the temporal direction is that direction on the manifold of events in which our best theories can tell the strongest, most informative "stories." Put another way, time is that direction in which our ...
See moreWhat is the difference between time and space? This paper proposes an answer: the temporal direction is that direction on the manifold of events in which our best theories can tell the strongest, most informative "stories." Put another way, time is that direction in which our theories can obtain as much determinism as possible. I make two arguments. The first is a general one defending the idea that strength determines what is temporal. The second is a more specific technical illustration of the first: understanding 'strength' as having a well-posed Cauchy problem, I show that for a wide class of equations, namely, linear second-order partial differential equations, the desire for strength does indeed distinguish the temporal direction. After assessing how general the second argument is, the paper explores the ramifications of this theory for various problems in the philosophy of time.
See less
See moreWhat is the difference between time and space? This paper proposes an answer: the temporal direction is that direction on the manifold of events in which our best theories can tell the strongest, most informative "stories." Put another way, time is that direction in which our theories can obtain as much determinism as possible. I make two arguments. The first is a general one defending the idea that strength determines what is temporal. The second is a more specific technical illustration of the first: understanding 'strength' as having a well-posed Cauchy problem, I show that for a wide class of equations, namely, linear second-order partial differential equations, the desire for strength does indeed distinguish the temporal direction. After assessing how general the second argument is, the paper explores the ramifications of this theory for various problems in the philosophy of time.
See less
Date
2006-07-21Publisher
Centre for Time, Department of Philosophy, University of Sydney.Licence
This material is copyright. Other than for the purposes of and subject to the conditions prescribed under the Copyright Act, no part of it may in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, microcopying, photocopying, recording or otherwise) be altered, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted without prior written permission from the University of Sydney Library and/or the appropriate author.Share