Dismantling Space and Time [Review of book by Brian Greene]

Tech Central Station ^ | 09 March 2004 | Kenneth Silber

[linear]

That's a cool idea.

I've always favored the notion that time is a combination of more than one dimension. However, I'm content to know that time itself will tell what the correct answer is. lol

[Migraine]

it's all about matter. One of the properties of matter is its intrinsic motion. The fact of matter, given its intrinsic (and extrinsic) motion, yields, in and of itself, certain byproducts. The most notable of these are time and space. Without matter (and motion), you would have neither. Without matter in motion, "time" could not exist, since it is a spinoff of matter in motion, and nothing more. Without matter in motion, "space" would not exist, since space is nothing more than the distance between materials. Without matter, indeed, "space" would be nothingness, which we are unable to say much about, because the instant that we do, "somethingness" erupts.

[OSHA]

I'm with you! All this pondering makes me hungry. (Santa Fe style)

[Conspiracy Guy]

Dismantling Space is easy. Putting it back together without having a bunch of parts still laying around is hard.

I once rebuilt a 65 Ford Fairlane. When I was through I still had a lot of parts so I built a Harley.

[MDspinboyredux]

I agree that time is multi-dimentional. Migrane actually hits is in a couple of posts above this one.

Since matter is multi-dimentional, then its by-products (time) are also multi-dimentional.

Migrane also beat me to an interesting mind exercise. If you are to believe that space is non-material (just 'distance' between stuff), without matter would time exist? To expand on this, knowing time is relative to position, if we just pop you into this nothingness, without any other matter(and therefore no relative position) would you age?

[linear]

I hear you. My salsa verde count must be getting low.

[The Scourge of Yazid]

Niels Bohr:

Big deal! Has mister smarty pants had a play written about him yet? Don't think so! Pfft! "String theory" my German exile ass!

[facedown]

BTTT

[Fedora]

Putting the first two dimensions back together isn't too bad, it's when I get to the third dimension that I can never find the right size screwdriver.

[MDspinboyredux]

Heh-heh

[Conspiracy Guy]

# 2 Philips left hand grip. Don't forget the Metric Crescent Wrench.

[OSHA]

OSHA's Crackpot theory o' the day:

Space exists only because matter exists. Gravity is nothing more than "surface tension" of space trying to minimize itself.

Time travel was invented 50 years ago but is being suppressed by a consortium of time travelers from the future. (or the past depending on your reference point).

[OSHA]

I'm with you. It fits well with my thoughts on gravity espressed (in the first part) of #32.

[Conspiracy Guy]

This is true. Darksheare and I are part of the consortium. But I will go back a few minutes and not post this so you will never know.

[OSHA]

I have a "string theory" too....hmmmm...better not.

[RightWhale]

One of the properties of matter is its intrinsic motion

Do not confuse matter with body. Watch our for the Higgs field--the modern aether. Make no absolute statements. Hahahaha.

[Fedora]

"# 2 Philips left hand grip. Don't forget the Metric Crescent Wrench."

Hey, that works--thanks! Now if I could just get the dang flashlight to shine so that I can see the fourth coordinate. . .

[Conspiracy Guy]

The flashlight will not work until you are finished. Please hurry I need to go to the men's room.

[scott0347]

That is an interesting hypothesis, but how does the string theory fit into all of this?

[Fedora]

"OSHA's Crackpot theory o' the day:"
"Space exists only because matter exists."

Being a crackpot I'd agree with this. It follows logically from the definitions of matter and space.

"Gravity is nothing more than "surface tension" of space trying to minimize itself."

I've thought of something like that, but am not sure how to express it in precise logical/mathematical terms or verify it yet.

"Time travel was invented 50 years ago but is being suppressed by a consortium of time travelers from the future. (or the past depending on your reference point)."

That'd be BSIC, the consortium led by Darksheare and I. We also suppress the location of all the erasers to all the golf-club pencils in the world.