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Single Idea 22917

[filed under theme 27. Natural Reality / D. Time / 1. Nature of Time / e. Eventless time ]

Full Idea

Since, by definition, nothing happens in a temporal vacuum, there is no possible means of determining its length.

Gist of Idea

Since nothing occurs in a temporal vacuum, there is no way to measure its length

Source

Robin Le Poidevin (Travels in Four Dimensions [2003], 02 'without change')

Book Ref

Le Poidevin,Robin: 'Travels in Four Dimensions' [OUP 2003], p.22


A Reaction

This is offered a part of a dubious proof that a temporal vacuum is impossible. I like Shoemaker's three worlds thought experiment, which tests this idea to the limit.

Related Idea

Idea 8595 If three regions freeze every 3rd, 4th and 5th year, they all freeze together every 60 years [Shoemaker]


The 7 ideas with the same theme [status of time when nothing moves or happens]:

Some think time is seen at rest, as well as in movement [Porphyry]
Time is independent of motion, because God could stop everything for a short or long time [Crathorn, by Pasnau]
If there were duration without change, we could never establish its length [Leibniz]
If three regions 'freeze' every three, four and five years, after sixty years everything stops for a year [Shoemaker, by Lowe]
If three regions freeze every 3rd, 4th and 5th year, they all freeze together every 60 years [Shoemaker]
Since nothing occurs in a temporal vacuum, there is no way to measure its length [Le Poidevin]
Temporal vacuums would be unexperienced, unmeasured, and unending [Le Poidevin]