Is Time a Construct of Consciousness? Examining Entropy and the Reality of Time

In summary, the conversation discusses Robert Lanza's argument in his book Biocentrism that time is a construct of consciousness and not a fundamental aspect of the universe. Lanza claims that entropy, which is often used as evidence of time's reality, is just movement and that the subjective experience of time also disproves its fundamental existence. The conversation also suggests that without experimental tests, Lanza's theory cannot be considered science.
  • #1
JordanSC5
7
1
Apologies if this is in the wrong forum:

I am reading Biocentrism by Robert Lanza, and one of his arguments is that time has no real existence outside of animal perception. He says is is the process by which we perceive changes in the universe. The books argument is that everything is a construct of consciousness.

Anyway, I've learned a bit about entropy being an aspect showing time's reality, but he seemed to "debunk it." I wanted to get some counter arguments to his theory, as I'd like to believe in the reality of time.

He says entropy is just movement. "Things move, molecules move" If two rooms with oxygen and nitrogen where to be adjacent, and then have their door open, three days later the particles will have just moved. "Movement is not time"

He also says that the subjective experience of time (compare one person traveling at 99% of the speed of light and a person on earth) shows that time cannot be a fundamental bedrock of the cosmos like light speed or gravity are.

Thanks!
 
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  • #2
JordanSC5 said:
...
He also says that the subjective experience of time (compare one person traveling at 99% of the speed of light and a person on earth) shows that time cannot be a fundamental bedrock of the cosmos like light speed or gravity are.

Thanks!

Seems to me it is the OBJECTIVE experience of time that nails it. A person on Earth perceived time as moving forward at the rate of 1 second per second and a person traveling at .999c relative to Earth ALSO perceives time as moving forward at the rate of 1 second per second.
 
  • #3
No need to debunk it, it is not science.

When you are presented with a new "theory of everything" ask, "what experimental tests could falsify this theory" and "what experimental tests could confirm this theory". If there are no experiments then it is not science.
 

What is entropy and how is it related to the reality of time?

Entropy is a measure of the disorder or randomness in a system. In terms of the reality of time, entropy is linked to the concept of the arrow of time, which states that the universe tends towards increasing disorder or entropy over time.

How does the second law of thermodynamics relate to entropy and the reality of time?

The second law of thermodynamics states that the total entropy of a closed system will always increase over time. This is directly related to the arrow of time and the idea that the universe moves towards a state of maximum disorder or entropy.

Can entropy be reversed or decreased?

While it is possible for local decreases in entropy to occur, such as in the formation of complex structures, the overall trend is towards increasing entropy. This is supported by the second law of thermodynamics and the arrow of time.

Is there a connection between entropy and the beginning or end of the universe?

Entropy is often linked to the concept of the heat death of the universe, where all energy is evenly distributed and the universe reaches a state of maximum entropy. Some theories suggest that the beginning of the universe, such as the Big Bang, had a low entropy state, but this is still a topic of debate among scientists.

How does entropy and the reality of time impact our daily lives?

Entropy and the arrow of time play a role in many aspects of our daily lives, from the aging of our bodies to the decay of materials. Understanding entropy can also help us make more efficient use of energy and resources in our daily activities.

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