Are Events in Reality Defined by Causes?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the nature of events in reality, questioning whether events exist as discrete occurrences or if everything is part of a continuous process. Participants explore the implications of events in various contexts, including physics, time, and causality, with specific examples such as photon-electron interactions and billiard ball collisions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question the existence of discrete events versus continuous processes, asking if events have precise beginnings and ends.
  • One participant asserts that the emission/absorption of radiation is an example of a discrete event, while others argue that many events are continuous in nature.
  • There is a discussion about whether the interaction of a photon with an electron constitutes an event, with some agreeing it does, while others express uncertainty about its temporal boundaries.
  • Participants debate the implications of events for the concept of time, with one suggesting that without events, time cannot exist.
  • Some participants propose that the universe's expansion may lead to a state where meaningful interactions cease, raising questions about the continuity of events over time.
  • There are differing views on the definition of an event, with some claiming that events can be continuous processes, while others argue that events must be discrete points in time.
  • One participant challenges the existence of events altogether, stating they cannot define what an event is.
  • There are humorous interjections and off-topic comments that do not contribute to the main discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the nature of events, with multiple competing views presented regarding whether events are discrete or continuous, and whether they can exist in a continuous process. The discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Participants express various assumptions about the definitions of events and continuity, leading to unresolved questions about the nature of causality and the implications for time. Some definitions and interpretations are not agreed upon, contributing to the complexity of the discussion.

ddjj77
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Are there any events in reality, or is everything a continuous process?
If events exist, do they have precise beginnings and ends?
When a photon hits an electron, is that an event? Does that "event" have a beginning and an end?
Could the big bang be considered the only event?
Can there be any events in a process?
Related to the above question is the question: Are there any causes in reality?
When two billiard balls traveling towards each other collide and proceed to travel in their respective opposite directions, what was the cause of that event?
To make it a bit more difficult, say two balls are traveling in line and in the same direction, ball A at 10mph and ball B at 20mph right behind ball A, then ball B collides with ball A; what was the cause of that event?
 
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ddjj77 said:
Are there any events in reality, or is everything a continuous process?

Yes, there are "discrete" events if that's what you mean. The emission/absorption of radiation is just one example.

ddjj77 said:
If events exist, do they have precise beginnings and ends?

Yes and no. It depends on what you mean by an event. Not all events are discrete, but we commonly talk about many events that are continuous processes as being discrete because of the way the interacts occur. For example, a slingshot maneuver used by a space probe can be thought of as an event, but there is no sudden beginning or end to it.

ddjj77 said:
When a photon hits an electron, is that an event? Does that "event" have a beginning and an end?

Yes, it would be considered an event. The interaction and transfer of energy from the photon to the electron occurs instantaneously as far as I know.

ddjj77 said:
Could the big bang be considered the only event?

No.

ddjj77 said:
Related to the above question is the question: Are there any causes in reality?

Yes.

ddjj77 said:
When two billiard balls traveling towards each other collide and proceed to travel in their respective opposite directions, what was the cause of that event?

In reality there is a chain of events leading up to the collision, of which all could be considered as one of many causes. But the most immediate cause is the interactions between the atoms and molecules of each ball generating a repulsive force that repels them from each other.

ddjj77 said:
To make it a bit more difficult, say two balls are traveling in line and in the same direction, ball A at 10mph and ball B at 20mph right behind ball A, then ball B collides with ball A; what was the cause of that event?

Same answer as above.
 
"The interaction and transfer of energy from the photon to the electron occurs instantaneously as far as I know."

That's the $64,000 question.
Strange that no one else wants to tackle that. Are my questions absurd, or the answers too obvious?
 
If there were no events there would be no time.
That is quite a popular idea of what happens at the end of the Universe,
 
rootone said:
If there were no events there would be no time.
That is quite a popular idea of what happens at the end of the Universe,
Why couldn't everything be continuous from the big bang onwards?
 
ddjj77 said:
Why couldn't everything be continuous from the big bang onwards?

What do you mean?
 
ddjj77 said:
Why couldn't everything be continuous from the big bang onwards?
So far it is continuous.
The problem is that the Universe appears to be expanding at an increasing rate.
In mega-bazzillons of years in the future, everything gets so spread apart that no interactions of any consequence are happening anymore.
 
Drakkith said:
What do you mean?
I'm assuming that within a continuous process there can be no events. Am I wrong?
Or, maybe there's no such thing as a continuous process?
 
ddjj77 said:
"The interaction and transfer of energy from the photon to the electron occurs instantaneously as far as I know."

That's the $64,000 question.
How so?
Strange that no one else wants to tackle that. Are my questions absurd, or the answers too obvious?
I think the answers are too obvious. An "event" is often defined as being a single point in time and that doesn't really have anything to do with whether time is actually continuous or not.

[edit]
I'm assuming that within a continuous process there can be no events. Am I wrong?
Yes.
 
  • #10
ddjj77 said:
I'm assuming that within a continuous process there can be no events. Am I wrong?

I think that depends on what you define as an event. As I said earlier, we commonly label things as events that are continual processes.
 
  • #11
This comment is an event!
 
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  • #12
"An "event" is often defined as being a single point in time..."
According to that definition, every event consists of an infinite number of timeless events.
 
  • #13
rootone said:
This comment is an event!
Is the event "comment" still happening?
When did it start, with your typing the first "T"?
 
  • #14
No it doesn't
If you fall under a truck and die tomorrow, you will not be doing that an infinite number of times,
 
  • #15
Drakkith said:
I think that depends on what you define as an event. As I said earlier, we commonly label things as events that are continual processes.
I can't define "event" because I deny such existence.
 
  • #16
rootone said:
No it doesn't
If you fall under a truck and die tomorrow, you will not be doing that an infinite number of times,
Falling under a truck isn't an event because it has no beginning and no end.
 
  • #17
Another angle:
I'll take the liberty to treat time and space equally here. The space equivalent of an event would be a thing. Thus, I also claim that there are no things in the universe. To this day I can't tell where my nose ends and where my cheek begins.
 
  • #18
Your tiger's head is six feet from it's tale :cool:
My old man is is a dustman and he wears a dustman hat,
 
Last edited:
  • #19
rootone said:
Your tiger's head is six feet from it's tale :cool:
My old man is is a dustman and he wears a dustman hat,
Reported.
 
  • #20
ddjj77 said:
"An "event" is often defined as being a single point in time..."
According to that definition, every event consists of an infinite number of timeless events.
Nope. Every event is a single point in space/time. I think you are still trying to mix in the idea that events have a duration.

It really isn't complicated: is 4 a point or continuum?
I can't define "event" because I deny such existence.
1. You aren't really entitled to make up your own definitions.
2. Even if you were, what you are saying doesn't make logical sense, for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that you do, in fact, need to define "event" before you can show whether such a thing exists or not.
3. In this forum, we require people to adhere to known science and not speculate outside of it.
 
  • #21
Thread locked.
 

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