time's arrow

time's arrow
Unlike space, time as we apprehend it has a direction. There is an asymmetry between the past (fixed) and the future (yet to exist). Time's arrow is whatever gives time this direction. Five aspects of the direction are: (i) that according to the second law of thermodynamics, disorder ( entropy ) increases from past to future; (ii) the universe is expanding in time; (iii) causal efficacy works in only one direction in time, since future events cannot influence past events (see backward causation ); (iv) we remember past events whilst we cannot remember later ones; and (v) we can alter the future in a sense in which we cannot alter the past. A complete understanding of time would enable us to relate these five aspects of time's arrow, and to know whether they are true of necessity or only as a consequence of other contingencies. See a-series, time.

Philosophy dictionary. . 2011.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Time's Arrow — may refer to:* Arrow of time, a direction of time on a four dimensional relativistic map of the world * Time s Arrow , a novel by Martin Amis * Time s Arrow , a short story by Arthur C. Clarke * Time s Arrow, Time s Cycle , a book by Stephen Jay… …   Wikipedia

  • Time's Arrow, Time's Cycle — is a book by Stephen Jay Gould. It discusses the discovery of Deep Time, and the works of Thomas Burnet, James Hutton, and Charles Lyell. External links* [http://www.sjgarchive.org/library/timeArrow.html full contents] Details*Publisher: Harvard… …   Wikipedia

  • Time's Arrow (short story) — Time s Arrow is a short story by Arthur C. Clarke, first published in 1952.This is the story of a human visit to time when dinosaurs still roamed earth, in a time machine. Probably accidentally, as hinted towards the end of the story …   Wikipedia

  • Time's Arrow (novel) — infobox Book | name = Time s Arrow: or The Nature of the Offence orig title = translator = author = Martin Amis cover artist = country = England language = English series = genre = Novel publisher = Jonathan Cape release date = 1991 media type =… …   Wikipedia

  • arrow of time — arrow of time, Physics. the direction in which time flows: »In most of the things we experience, the arrow of time, as it is called, is pointed firmly in the future (Science News). Accumulated starlight from the cycle subsequent to the one in… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Arrow Through Me — Single par Paul McCartney et les Wings extrait de l’album Back to the Egg Face A Arrow Through Me Face B Old Siam, Sir Sortie …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Arrow of time — This article is an overview of the subject. For a more technical discussion and for information related to current research, see Entropy (arrow of time). In the natural sciences, arrow of time, or time’s arrow, is a term coined in 1927 by British …   Wikipedia

  • Time — This article is about the measurement. For the magazine, see Time (magazine). For other uses, see Time (disambiguation). The flow of sand in an hourglass can be used to keep track of elapsed time. It also concretely represents the present as… …   Wikipedia

  • Arrow Flash — Infobox VG title = Arrow Flash developer = Sega publisher = Sega ( Japan and Europe ) Renovation Products ( US ) distributor = designer = Takashi Akaishizawa ( character designer ) engine = version = released = 1990 genre = Scrolling shooter… …   Wikipedia

  • time — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) Measurement of duration Nouns 1. time, duration; period, term, stage, space, span, spell, season; fourth dimension; the whole time; era, epoch, age, aeon; time of life; moment, instant, instantaneity,… …   English dictionary for students

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”