Block Universe Theory: All points in time (past, present, future) exist simultaneously.
Theory of Relativity: States that space and time are interconnected, forming a 'space-time' continuum. Time is relative and can differ based on an observer's speed and location relative to other objects.
Cosmic Democracy: Every observer's 'now' is equally real and valid.
Visualization: The Block Universe
Analogy: The universe like a child drawing pictures. Each picture represents a moment in time.
Single Moments: All things that happen in the universe in a specific moment are captured in one picture.
Stack of Moments: If all pictures/moments are stacked together, they form a block where all moments coexist.
Relativity and Time Perception
Connected Space-Time: Time and space are not separate entities in relativity; they form a single entity called space-time.
Different 'Nows': Observers moving at different speeds experience different 'nows'.
No Universal Past or Future: Because each observer's now can be different, there is no single past or future that applies universally.
Thought Experiment: Alien Spaceships
Three Spaceships: Located a million light-years away, moving differently relative to Earth:
Stationary: Shares the same 'now' as Earth.
Moving Away: Experiences a 'now' in Earth's past (e.g., 1924).
Approaching: Experiences a 'now' in Earth's future (e.g., 2124).
Implications: Each spaceship’s 'now' is equally real, supporting that past, present, and future coexist.
Free Will vs Determinism
Predetermined Future: If all times coexist, events are already set, challenging the concept of free will.
Quantum Mechanics: Introduces unpredictability and randomness, implying the future isn't entirely predetermined.
Emergence and Reality
Ordered Personal Timeline: For individual objects or people, events like birth, life, and death follow a specific order, indicating a more conventional perception of time.
Growing Block Universe: New events happen and time 'grows' as uncertainties become certain.
Different Perspectives on Time
Local 'Now' vs Universal 'Now': Some scientists argue that the concept of 'now' is only meaningful locally, not universally.
Illusion of Time: Others propose that time might be an illusion or an emergent property rather than a fundamental element of the universe.
Conclusion
Multiple Possibilities: There are various theories and perspectives on the nature of time, and the true nature of time is still an open question.
Practical Implication: Whether the block universe or another theory is correct, our daily experiences and choices continue to shape our understanding of existence.