Why do we experience time as moving forward?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the question of why humans perceive time as moving forward. Participants explore various theories and concepts related to time perception, including entropy, consciousness, and the relationship between physical actions and the experience of time. The conversation touches on both theoretical and experiential aspects of time.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that entropy could explain the perception of time, positing that memories of the past are easier to form from lower entropy states.
  • Another participant proposes that the rate at which time is experienced may be linked to the speed of human actions and consciousness, which are limited by physiological factors.
  • A participant speculates that if a brain were emulated by a computer, changing the computer's speed could alter the perception of time passing.
  • There is a question raised about the usefulness of defining the rate of time passage in terms of units like seconds-per-second.
  • Some participants express a desire for references to physicists' theories on time perception, indicating a preference for established concepts over speculative ideas.
  • One participant acknowledges the idea that including memories from the past into the present contributes to the sensation of having come from the past.
  • Another participant humorously suggests that one might be recalling future discussions, indicating a playful engagement with the topic.
  • Links to previous discussions on time are shared, but participants express a desire to keep the current discussion focused and less speculative.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the nature of time perception, with no clear consensus reached. Some ideas are supported by multiple participants, while others remain contested or speculative.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the limitations of their discussions, such as the speculative nature of some ideas and the desire for more concrete references to established theories. There is also an acknowledgment of the complexity of defining rates of time and distance.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those exploring the philosophical and scientific aspects of time perception, including students of physics, psychology, and philosophy.

B.E.M
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Does anyone have any good online references to physicists' theories on why we experience ourselves as moving into the future?

In one sense it seems silly. If time passes at a constant rate, then what is that rate, what even are the units of that rate? One second per second??

I had assumed that entropy could explain why we can remember the past but only make hazy guesses at the future.
For example: Suppose the universe starts as a single cube of ice, 1m wide (call this state A). Notice that it is very low entropy and also very easy to describe. It melts and cracks to become a much more complicated configuration (state B). State B could potentially include a memory of state A for example a smaller ice cube. Since State A is simpler than state B, it cannot contain a version (or memory) of it.

Could this act of including memories from the past into the present give us the sensation that we have just come from the past?
 
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You observe change and the rate that time passes is governed by the rate that you can do elementary actions. Given the dimensions of your mouth for instance, you can only speak at a certain maximum speed, and given the size of our bodies, we can only do things at certain speeds, and since consciousness seems to operate pretty much at a speed governed by language which is governed by the speech apparatus, that is the speed we perceive at.

Although I suppose if we became accustomed to more rapid change we would operate at a greater speed, but nevertheless our physiology limits the speed at which we can operate. Bruce Lee got about as quick as one can get.

Sorry, I can't reference to theories, this is just my unadulterated opinion.
 
I guess you are saying something like the units of the rate at which we experience time passing are something like seconds-per-thought.

ie if you could replace your brain with a computer emulation of your brain, then if you cranked up or down the computer speed, external time would seem to pass slower or faster.

Fair enough.
 
russ_watters said:
At what rate does distance pass? 1 m/m?

Hi Russ, when I asked if time passed at 1 s/s, I meant to imply this was some sort of truism and therefore not useful.
 
Last edited:
Ivan Seeking said:
Here is a great and lengthy discussion about time.
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=127500

Hi Ivan, I did skim that thread before starting this one. I hope to keep the focus of this thread much less speculative.

Ideally what I would find is a link to a physicists explanation of the experience of moving through time in terms of established concepts of entropy, computability etc for the general reader.
 
B.E.M said:
Could this act of including memories from the past into the present give us the sensation that we have just come from the past?
Yes, that is the idea.
 
Hi Demystifier. I have the disturbing suspicion you are including memories of a future discussion we have not had yet. ;)

If you are continuing a discussion from another thread, could you provide a link? (but that discussion should probably be continued in that thread)
 
  • #11
Demystifier said:
BEM, see
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=147073

fair enough.. but I actually thought my icecube analogy was more ":cool:"
I wish I could find a paper or something on this.

(hmmm.. actually have found a few interesting links now, googling "time entropy past future", and avoiding anything with overlarge font and bright green background..)
 
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