How 'big' is the present moment in terms of time?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of the 'present moment' in relation to time, questioning its duration and nature. It touches on philosophical implications and the difficulty of defining the present in scientific terms.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested, Conceptual clarification, Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that time can be divided into past, present, and future, and questions how 'big' the present moment is, proposing various infinitesimal measures.
  • Another participant expresses skepticism about the scientific nature of the question, indicating that definitions of the present can vary based on context, suggesting it is more a matter of language than science.
  • A later reply acknowledges the philosophical nature of the topic and indicates that it may not lead to a scientific discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the nature of the present moment, with some viewing it as a philosophical question rather than a scientific one. The discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights limitations in defining the present moment, including the dependence on contextual interpretations and the potential for philosophical rather than scientific discourse.

Gondur
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Time can be divided three ways
Time in the future
Time in the present
Time in the past

We are living in the 'present'.

My question: how 'big' is this present time?

It might help if you think of a pen placed on a white sheet of paper. The pen represents our present time. The white space above the pen is the future, below is the past.

So how 'big' is the present time?

i.e. is it 0.0000000000000001 seconds

or even 0.00000... infinitesimally small?

Thanks.
 
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Gondur said:
So how 'big' is the present time?

what do you think and why ?

Warning, this thread topic is bordering on philosophy and may be closed
 
That's not really a scientific question. Everyone in different contexts can define what they mean by the present. That makes it a matter of language, not science.
 
On second thought. @davenn was right. There is no way this thread is likely to lead to scientific discussion, so I locked it.
 
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