Ideas of ‘time’ and ‘events’

ABSTRACT 1. Is ‘time’ conclusively or adequately defined by the statement that the ‘time’ of an ‘event’ in systems in motion varies according to the position of the ‘observer’ of the

‘event’? This implies (1) that ‘time’ is a characteristic or property of, and is inherent in, an event ; and (2) that both ‘time’ and ‘event’ are functions, so to say, of an ‘observer’.

Therefore, if no ‘observer’ function, an ‘event’ cannot occur and the property ‘time’ is eliminated. If, however, an ‘event’ be more scientifically defined as an electromagnetic relationship

between two bodies or points in space, it will occur whether observed or not (for not all bodies are observers) and ‘time’ is again eliminated. The question may therefore be asked: Is

‘time’ a characteristic of Nature or merely an idea of the observer? (See 4 and 5 below.) Access through your institution Buy or subscribe This is a preview of subscription content, access

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Open access 22 July 2022 GEOMETRIC AND PHYSICAL INTERPRETATION OF THE ACTION PRINCIPLE Article Open access 26 July 2023 TIME–INFORMATION UNCERTAINTY RELATIONS IN THERMODYNAMICS Article 21

September 2020 Authors * W. W. L. View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE

THIS ARTICLE L., W. Ideas of ‘Time’ and ‘Events’. _Nature_ 131, 727–728 (1933). https://doi.org/10.1038/131727a0 Download citation * Issue Date: 20 May 1933 * DOI:

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