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Single Idea 22948

[filed under theme 27. Natural Reality / D. Time / 2. Passage of Time / g. Time's arrow ]

Full Idea

The three most significant arrows of time are the Thermodynamic (the direction from order to disorder), the Psychological (from perceptions of events to memories), and the Causal (from cause to effect).

Gist of Idea

There are Thermodynamic, Psychological and Causal arrows of time

Source

Robin Le Poidevin (Travels in Four Dimensions [2003], 12 'Three')

Book Ref

Le Poidevin,Robin: 'Travels in Four Dimensions' [OUP 2003], p.206


A Reaction

It would be nice if one of these explained the other two. Le Poidevin rejects the Psychological arrow, and seems to favour the Causal. Since I favour taking time as a primitive, I'm inclined to think that the arrow is included in the deal.


The 30 ideas from 'Travels in Four Dimensions'

A thing which makes no difference seems unlikely to exist [Le Poidevin]
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]
We can identify unoccupied points in space, so they must exist [Le Poidevin]
Absolute space explains actual and potential positions, and geometrical truths [Le Poidevin]
If spatial points exist, then they must be stationary, by definition [Le Poidevin]
For relationists moving an object beyond the edge of space creates new space [Le Poidevin]
The logical properties of causation are asymmetry, transitivity and irreflexivity [Le Poidevin]
In addition to causal explanations, they can also be inferential, or definitional, or purposive [Le Poidevin]
The present is the past/future boundary, so the first moment of time was not present [Le Poidevin]
If the present could have diverse pasts, then past truths can't have present truthmakers [Le Poidevin]
To say that the past causes the present needs them both to be equally real [Le Poidevin]
Time can't speed up or slow down, so it doesn't seem to be a 'process' [Le Poidevin]
We distinguish time from space, because it passes, and it has a unique present moment [Le Poidevin]
We don't just describe a time as 'now' from a private viewpoint, but as a fact about the world [Le Poidevin]
The B-series doesn't seem to allow change [Le Poidevin]
If the B-universe is eternal, why am I trapped in a changing moment of it? [Le Poidevin]
The primitive parts of time are intervals, not instants [Le Poidevin]
Instantaneous motion is an intrinsic disposition to be elsewhere [Le Poidevin]
If time is infinitely divisible, then the present must be infinitely short [Le Poidevin]
How could a timeless God know what time it is? So could God be both timeless and omniscient? [Le Poidevin]
The dynamic view of motion says it is primitive, and not reducible to objects, properties and times [Le Poidevin]
The multiverse is distinct time-series, as well as spaces [Le Poidevin]
An ordered series can be undirected, but time favours moving from earlier to later [Le Poidevin]
If time's arrow is causal, how can there be non-simultaneous events that are causally unconnected? [Le Poidevin]
Time's arrow is not causal if there is no temporal gap between cause and effect [Le Poidevin]
If time's arrow is psychological then different minds can impose different orders on events [Le Poidevin]
There are Thermodynamic, Psychological and Causal arrows of time [Le Poidevin]
Presumably if time's arrow is thermodynamic then time ends when entropy is complete [Le Poidevin]
If time is thermodynamic then entropy is necessary - but the theory says it is probable [Le Poidevin]