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Full Idea
Two successive lengths of duration, however measured, can never be demonstrated to be equal.
Gist of Idea
We can never show that two successive periods of time were equal
Source
John Locke (Essay Conc Human Understanding (2nd Ed) [1694], 2.14.21)
Book Ref
Locke,John: 'Essay Concerning Human Understanding', ed/tr. Nidditch,P.H. [OUP 1979], p.190
A Reaction
Nice thought. You can't lay the durations next to one another, the way you can lengths. You can only count the clock ticks, but not be sure whether their speed remained constant.
22963 | We measure change by time, and time by change, as they are interdefined [Aristotle] |
22968 | Circular motion is the most obvious measure of time, and especially the celestial sphere [Aristotle] |
17015 | If there is no uniform motion, we cannot exactly measure time [Newton] |
12487 | We can never show that two successive periods of time were equal [Locke] |
22882 | We use calendars for the order of events, and clocks for their passing [Bardon] |