What Makes Time Different from Space?

The author discusses the fundamental differences between temporal and spatial directions. Newtonian mechanics of space and time allow for the identification of points of space and instants of time. Relativity suggests that the geometry of space and time is dependent on the distribution of matter. Th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nous (0029-4624) Vol. 41; no. 2; pp. 227 - 253
Main Author: Skow, Bradford
Format: Article
Published: Wiley-Blackwell Jun2007
Subjects:
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
Description
Summary:The author discusses the fundamental differences between temporal and spatial directions. Newtonian mechanics of space and time allow for the identification of points of space and instants of time. Relativity suggests that the geometry of space and time is dependent on the distribution of matter. The author suggests dimensionality fails to reveal differences of time and space because both may be one-dimensional. He suggests the laws of nature may apply differently to time than to space.