Single Idea 14014

[catalogued under 27. Natural Reality / C. Space / 6. Space-Time]

Full Idea

Henceforth, space by itself, and time by itself, are doomed to fade away into mere shadows, and only a kind of union of the two will preserve an independent reality.

Gist of Idea

Space alone, and time alone, will fade away, and only their union has an independent reality

Source

Hermann Minkowski (Space and Time [1908], Intro)

Book Reference

'Problems of Space and Time', ed/tr. Smart,J.J.C. [Macmillan 1973], p.297


A Reaction

Notice the qualification that it is a 'kind of' union. Deep confusion arises from exaggerating the analogy between space and time. Craig Bourne remarks (2006:157) that this shows independence of measurement, not of reality