What is the meaning of 'relative' and 'apparent' in Newton's concept of time?

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In Newton's "Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica," he distinguishes between absolute mathematical time and relative, apparent time. Relative time refers to measurements that vary based on the precision of different instruments, while apparent time serves as a proxy for true mathematical time but does not equate to it. The discussion emphasizes that these terms highlight the difference between theoretical time and practical measurements. Some participants suggest that this distinction is largely of historical interest, as the concepts have been largely abandoned in modern physics. Overall, the terms reflect Newton's attempt to clarify the nature of time in relation to observation and measurement.
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In the masterpiece "Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica" , Newton says:

"Absolute, true, and mathematical time, of itself, and from its own nature, flows equably without relation to anything external, and by another name is called duration: relative, apparent, and common time, is some sensible and external (whether accurate or unequable) measure of duration by the means of motion, which is commonly used instead of true time"

All this sentence seems clear to me, except the two adjective: relative and apparent. For you, what's is the meaning the Newton gives to this two adjectives in this context ?
 
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He seems to be intending to distinguish ”mathematical time” and actual time measurements that act as observational placeholders. They would be relative in the sense that the precision of different instruments in finding a number corresponding to mathematical time might differ and apparent in that they are not actually the mathematical time but being used as a proxy.
 
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Aleoa said:
All this sentence seems clear to me, except the two adjective: relative and apparent. For you, what's is the meaning the Newton gives to this two adjectives in this context ?
I wouldn’t spend too much effort on this. It is a translation of a very out of date document describing a concept that has been largely abandoned. It is only of historical interest.
 
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Orodruin said:
He seems to be intending to distinguish ”mathematical time” and actual time measurements that act as observational placeholders. They would be relative in the sense that the precision of different instruments in finding a number corresponding to mathematical time might differ and apparent in that they are not actually the mathematical time but being used as a proxy.

Thanks. And the term "apparent" ?
 
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