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Single Idea 22944

[filed under theme 27. Natural Reality / D. Time / 3. Parts of Time / c. Intervals ]

Full Idea

Intervals of time can be viewed as primitive, and not decomposable into a series of instants.

Gist of Idea

The primitive parts of time are intervals, not instants

Source

Robin Le Poidevin (Travels in Four Dimensions [2003], 09 'in present')

Book Ref

Le Poidevin,Robin: 'Travels in Four Dimensions' [OUP 2003], p.158

A Reaction

Given that instants are nothing, and intervals are something, the latter are clearly the better candidates to be the parts of time. Is there a smallest interval?

The 4 ideas with the same theme [brief sections in the passing of time]:

22750 Time is divisible, into past, present and future [Sext.Empiricus]
1905 How can time be divisible if we can't compare one length of time with another? [Sext.Empiricus]
22944 The primitive parts of time are intervals, not instants [Le Poidevin]
18927 Surely if things extend over time, then time itself must be extended? [Cameron]