An Infinite Time's Arrow is Impossible and Incompatible with Scientific Theory

[james.goetz]

The idea is that in the wide variety of fluctuations, something along the lines of an inflaton field will be produced. This will then begin inflation in the region it exists in, and inflation takes over from there.

The point is that you can have vacuum fluctuations 'from nothing' that could produce a universe.

We agree on this.

AFAIK, all theories of quantum gravity propose a discrete spacetime. Otherwise, calculations result in a variety of infinities. The discovery that there is fundamental limit to how much information can be contained in a region, is irreconcilable with the view of a continuous spacetime.

I heard differently but cannot do the calculations by myself. This could make an interesting question for the forum, which probably has been addressed previously:

"Do theories of quantum gravity require that spacetime is a lattice instead of a continuum?"

 

[Travis_King]

Quick question:

You stand with your back against a wall and begin walking on a perfectly flat road. This road extends into spatial infinity in front of you, but that wall always remains where it is.

We would call this road infinitely long, no? As it does extend an infinite length in the direction you are walking. But what about the wall? Does the fact that the wall exists negate the "infinity-ness" of the road? Would the road be more infinite if the wall were removed and you were able to walk the road in the other direction as well?

 

[james.goetz]

Quick question:

You stand with your back against a wall and begin walking on a perfectly flat road. This road extends into spatial infinity in front of you, but that wall always remains where it is.

We would call this road infinitely long, no? As it does extend an infinite length in the direction you are walking. But what about the wall? Does the fact that the wall exists negate the "infinity-ness" of the road? Would the road be more infinite if the wall were removed and you were able to walk the road in the other direction as well?

Hi Travis, Yes you describe an infinite road with one finite end comparable to a geometric ray. Also consider that there is an infinite number of positive natural numbers and an infinite number of negative natural numbers and an infinite numbers natural numbers in multiples of 2, 3, 4, and ad infinitum. But how does this relate to the thread?

 

[james.goetz]

Travis, I see I missed the four question in your quick question.
QA1. yes
QA2. not sure what you're asking about the wall yet
QA3. no
QA4. no

 

[james.goetz]

Zeno's paradox is based on the idea that space is infinitely divisible and Achilles never catches the turtle because it would take infinite time to cross the infinite number of infinitesimal points separating him from the turtle. If you replace infinitely divisible space with an infinitely divisible number of causal events, you have merely restated Zeno's paradox. Even Zeno knew something was wrong with this argument, but, not how to prove it.

Hi Chronos,

I see a huge difference. Zeno looked at a finite length such as a cubit and said that it is infinitely divisible and therefore nobody can travel a cubit, while in fact observation clearly indicates that uncountable animals have traveled a cubit. In my case, I observe the expansion of a flat universe and say that it will always expand and always have a finite size and age. Your comparison of Zeno's paradox and my observation is a false analogy.

 

[thorium1010]

In my case, I observe the expansion of a flat universe and say that it will always expand and always have a finite size and age.

I think the bolded part is important to understand that current observations appear that the universe will continue to expand that means it will expand infinitely and that includes time, there is no finite time in the future at which the universe will stop expanding (as per current observations).

 

[james.goetz]

I think the bolded part is important to understand that current observations appear that the universe will continue to expand that means it will expand infinitely and that includes time, there is no finite time in the future at which the universe will stop expanding (as per current observations).

Hi thorium1010: Yes, that is what I meant by "always."

 

[james.goetz]

I posted major revisions at An Infinite Lapse of Time is Impossible and Unscientific
An Infinite Lapse of Time is Impossible and Unscientific

I plan to discontinue replies at this thread and pick up on that thread. Thank you for all of your contributions to this thread.

 

[Jack Smart]

Semantics. Time is merely the measurement (calibration) of change. No change, no time. The issue isn't whether time is infinite, but whether change is infinite.

The "arrow of time" is a misleading borrowing of a spatial term. Does change have an arrow? If you consider trillions of quantum particles all doing their own thing a "direction" - I guess it might.

www.thisistime.co.uk