Can Life exist if Clocks were not discovered?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the feasibility of life existing in the cosmos without the discovery of time measurement devices, specifically clocks. Participants consider whether civilizations could comprehend the universe and their existence through measures of length and distance instead of time, and the implications of such a scenario on intelligence and awareness of change.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that comprehension of change does not necessarily require measurement, suggesting that awareness of change could suffice.
  • Others argue that while clocks are tools, the concept of time is inherent and vital to the universe, raising questions about the intelligence of a species without any concept of time.
  • A participant mentions that humans did not always know how to make clocks, implying that a civilization could evolve without them.
  • There is a suggestion that some physicists advocate for the possibility of doing away with the concept of time, though this is met with skepticism by others who believe time's direction and magnitude may not be constant but are still essential.
  • One participant questions whether all animals have a definite concept of time, using alligators and ferns as examples to challenge the notion of intelligence and knowledge in relation to time awareness.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views, with some agreeing that clocks are merely tools while others contend that the concept of time is fundamental to intelligence. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the necessity of time measurement for comprehension and existence.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the assumptions made about the relationship between time, intelligence, and awareness, as well as the definitions of intelligence and comprehension that are not fully explored.

Wave's_Hand_Particle
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And thus, is it feasible that if the Cosmos has life in other Galaxies, could they evolve without the discovery of Time Measurement Device's, namely clocks?

What if the standard measure were just Length and Distance?..could a civilisation comprehend the Cosmos without Clocks?
 
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"To see a World in a grain of sand, And Heaven in a wild flower, Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand And Eternity in an hour."

William Blake

Clocks just measure change. Comprehension is awareness of change, not necessarilly measurement.
 
exactley what i think. but when you say somesuch thing on one of the science forums you get bombed by physics terminology that i understand just so that i can figure out that it is believed or even somewhat proved that time is a dimension of it's own.

but in either case i don't think we would have to make a clock to live.Did homo habilis have a clock? hmm...but perhaps our comprehension of time, a dimension or whatever, is affected by our ability to change our environment faster.
 
Clocks are nothing but a tool. It is possible that culture somewhere in the galaxy to evolve without knowing how to make a clock, if fact humans did not always know how to make a clock.

But are you asking if is its possible for an intelligent species to evolve without the concept of time, that would be difficult to swallow. Time is such an inherant and vital part of the universe that if a intelligent species had no concept of it, I would have a difficulty labeling them as intelligent.
 
Deeviant said:
Clocks are nothing but a tool. It is possible that culture somewhere in the galaxy to evolve without knowing how to make a clock, if fact humans did not always know how to make a clock.

But are you asking if is its possible for an intelligent species to evolve without the concept of time, that would be difficult to swallow. Time is such an inherant and vital part of the universe that if a intelligent species had no concept of it, I would have a difficulty labeling them as intelligent.

Interesting, would you then be open to what some Physicists are advocating(?), that we can do away with the concept of Time?
 
Wave's_Hand_Particle said:
Interesting, would you then be open to what some Physicists are advocating(?), that we can do away with the concept of Time?

No, and I don't think they is what they are advocating. I would perhaps be open to the idea that time's direction and magnitude are not constant.
 
Light, Gravity, and other forms of Physics would not existence without a concept of time. Even in motion, you would not understand. I don't know if all animals on Earth have a definite concept of time, but they surely exist fine. And wisely, I believe. ****, alligators been around for what 400 millions years do you think they have a definative concept of time? Ferns? Intelligent or not is subjective. Wise or not is also. Knowledge is also.
 

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