The Nature of Time
Posted Jul 14, 2010What is time? A basic but important question. More important is not just understanding some basic definition of it, but it's interconnection with matter and what that means for us.
One basic definition of time is: The system of those sequential relations that any event has to any other, as past, present, or future; indefinite and continuous duration regarded as that in which events succeed one another.
Look at that definition again and think about our basic concept of cause and effect. Remember one of our C&E rules:
- Cause and effect can not happen simultaneously
In short, time is that which allows cause to become effect.
Let's look two other C&E laws:
- No effect can occur without a cause
- Every cause must produce an effect
With these we realize an important, yet hidden aspect of time: Every effect requires a cause, and every cause is created by an effect. Therefore, there can be no "first effect". Since C&E requires time, there can be no "first time".
In short, time has no beginning. It shall have no end.