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Single Idea 22963

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

Full Idea

Not only do we measure change by time, but time by change also, because they are defined by one another.

Gist of Idea

We measure change by time, and time by change, as they are interdefined

Source

Aristotle (Physics [c.337 BCE], 220b14)

Book Ref

Aristotle: 'Physics Books III and IV', ed/tr. Hussey,Edward [OUP 1983], p.46

A Reaction

He defends the idea that time is the 'number' of change, but this idea should sound a warning bell. He rejects the idea that time IS change. It is seems instrumentalist to make the existence of time depend on its measurement.

Related Idea

Idea 22959 Time is not change, but the number we associate with change [Aristotle]

The 5 ideas with the same theme [how we measure intervals and transits of time]:

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]