Single Idea 22968

[catalogued under 27. Natural Reality / D. Time / 3. Parts of Time / d. Measuring time]

Full Idea

Uniform circular motion is most of all a measure, because the number of this is most easily known. …This is why time is thought to be the motion of the [celestial] sphere, because the other changes are measured by this one.

Gist of Idea

Circular motion is the most obvious measure of time, and especially the celestial sphere

Source

Aristotle (Physics [c.337 BCE], 223b14)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Physics Books III and IV', ed/tr. Hussey,Edward [OUP 1983], p.53


A Reaction

This makes the year the basic unit of time for the human race. Apparently minutes only became of interest when railway timetables appeared in the 1850s.