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Single Idea 12487

[from 'Essay Conc Human Understanding (2nd Ed)' by John Locke, in 27. Natural Reality / D. Time / 3. Parts of Time / d. Measuring time ]

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 Reference

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.