Can There Be Time Without Space? A Question for Discussion

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the philosophical and theoretical question of whether time can exist independently of space. Participants explore the implications of this relationship within the context of physics and speculative thought, considering both definitions and the nature of events.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant asserts that while there can be no space without time, the possibility of time existing without space is worth exploring, emphasizing the inquiry into possibility rather than likelihood.
  • Another participant references a definition of time as a measure for ordering events, questioning what events could exist without space or energy.
  • A different viewpoint suggests that without space, events would occur simultaneously at a single point, and discusses the role of energy in defining states within phase space, implying that the concept of time may not hold meaning without spatial context.
  • One participant expresses skepticism about the question's validity within current scientific understanding, stating that time and space are not considered to exist separately under existing laws of physics, while also acknowledging the potential for future discoveries to alter this view.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the validity and implications of the question, with some arguing that the question may not make sense within current physics, while others maintain that it is a valid philosophical inquiry. No consensus is reached regarding the possibility of time existing without space.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights limitations in current scientific understanding of time and space, with participants acknowledging that existing laws may not be definitive and that future developments could change the framework of this inquiry.

iDimension
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So we know that there can be no space without time but can there be time without space? I want to ask here because I don't trust yahoo answers :)

I put it in bold because I want to know if it's possible, not if it's likely or anything, just if it could be possible,

Thanks.
 
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Wikipedia gives the following broad definition for time.measure in which events can be ordered from the past through the present into the future.

Without space, more important without energy, what events could there be?
 
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anorlunda said:
Without space, more important without energy, what events could there be?

I like the possibly more pity "without time everything would happen at the same time, without space everything would happen at the same spot". :w Energy is a measure of the states that a system can reach in phase space, the configurations it (can) cycle through, so it may make sense without space.

If string theory is correct, spacetime drops out of its physics. The physics happens in a configuration space, but it _will_ lead to spacetime at places (because it did). My opinion would be that the question "there can be no space without time but can there be time without space" doesn't make much sense re the physics.
 
iDimension said:
So we know that there can be no space without time but can there be time without space? I want to ask here because I don't trust yahoo answers :)

I put it in bold because I want to know if it's possible, not if it's likely or anything, just if it could be possible,

This isn't something that can be answered by science since our understanding of time and space is that they don't exist separately. So under the current laws of science, no it isn't possible, but this doesn't exclude the possibility that our laws are not correct. Since we don't know if our laws are correct, and we don't know what future laws will be correct, there's simply no way to know.

Also, since this is a very speculative topic, I'm going to close this thread. If anyone has any comments or concerns about this decision you can contact myself or another mentor.
 
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