Flow of time and flow of space

Time flows. That much is not surprising. Either time flows through us, or we flow through time—the effect feels the same, as long as the direction stays fixed. We call it the arrow of time. 

The arrow of time mystery

 Here, theory and experience part ways. Physicists and philosophers keep trying to explain—or to explain away—the arrow of time. Is it objective? Or merely subjective? And is its mystery somehow intertwined with that of consciousness? 

 Recently, I attended a seminar on the arrow of time, where one approach drew on the relational theory of Yu. S. Vladimirov. What I noticed was this: while the speaker aimed for an “objective explanation,” he could not avoid repeatedly saying “we.” I resisted the impulse to ask, “Who are these ‘we’ within the framework you propose?” I felt entitled to ask, having already confronted that very question myself—in a paper on the quantum theory of measurement. 

 So we have the arrow of time, we have irreversibility, and we have an unease about time loops—except, perhaps, in our rare dreams.

Here is the new version of my notes, with added Ch. 6.1 "Time-like streams", and 6.2. "Space-like streams," with new Figures 10,11,12.

 

 Link to pdf file.

In the next post we take a look at what kind of life can reside on the two  infinity circles?