It Takes Time to Realize There Is No Time — Lichfield Cathedral Provides the Key
Introduction
The concept of time has always fascinated humanity, from ancient civilisations tracking celestial movements to modern physicists unravelling the complexities of spacetime.
The idea that “time doesn’t exist” in the traditional sense and might be non-linear challenges our fundamental understanding of reality.
This essay explores the philosophical and scientific implications of a universe where time is not linear, drawing on insights from physics and mathematics.
The Illusion of Linear Time
In our daily lives, time appears linear: the past leads to the present, which progresses to the future. This intuitive understanding is deeply embedded in our language, culture, and consciousness. However, several philosophical and scientific perspectives suggest that this linear perception of time might be an illusion.
From a philosophical standpoint, thinkers like Immanuel Kant have argued that time is not an inherent property of the universe but a construct of the human mind used to organise experiences.
Similarly, in the realm of metaphysics, theories propose that all moments exist simultaneously and that the flow of time is a mental construct, a way for humans to make sense of their experiences.
Physics and the Nature of Time
In physics, particularly in the context of Einstein’s theory of relativity, time is intertwined with the fabric of space to form spacetime.
According to relativity, time can stretch and contract depending on the speed at which an object moves and its proximity to massive bodies. This challenges the notion of an absolute, linear time.
Moreover, some interpretations of quantum mechanics, such as the block universe theory, posit that time is like a spatial dimension where past, present, and future coexist.
In this view, the universe is a five-dimensional block, and the passage of time is merely an illusion of human consciousness moving through this block.
Non-Linear Time in Mathematics
Mathematics provides tools to model these complex ideas about time.
Non-linear dynamics and chaos theory, for example, show that systems can evolve in ways that are not straightforwardly predictable, suggesting that time’s progression can be non-linear.
These mathematical models help scientists understand phenomena where traditional, linear conceptions of time fall short.
An application of mathematics to the concept of non-linear time can be seen in the architecture of sacred spaces. The article “The Crossroads of Heaven & Earth: Is Time the Mathematics of Lichfield Cathedral?” discusses how the design of Lichfield Cathedral encodes mathematical principles that symbolise a non-linear conception of time.
The cathedral’s geometry (a 225-dimensional hypersphere nested in a tesseract), aligned with celestial events, reflects an ancient understanding of time as cyclical and interconnected with the cosmos, rather than a linear progression.
Implications for Understanding Reality
Accepting that time might not be linear has profound implications for our understanding of reality. It challenges the deterministic view that the future is a direct consequence of the past, opening up possibilities for alternate timelines and multiple futures.
This perspective aligns with certain interpretations of quantum mechanics, where different outcomes can exist simultaneously until observed.
In cosmology, the idea of non-linear time could provide insights into the nature of the universe’s beginning and end. Theories such as the cyclic model of the universe, where the cosmos undergoes endless cycles of expansion and contraction, resonate with this notion.
Conclusion
Exploring non-linear time bridges the gap between philosophy, physics, and mathematics, challenging our conventional understanding of reality.
While our everyday experience is rooted in a linear perception of time, deeper investigation reveals a more complex and perhaps more accurate picture of the universe.
Recognising that time might be an illusion, a construct of human consciousness, opens new avenues for understanding the cosmos and our place within it.
As we delve into these mysteries, we may come to appreciate the profound truth that it does indeed take time to realise that there is no time.
The Day Time Ended 1979 — Film Meditation
More to come (articles already written in the future will appear in the list below) …
Hypothesis for a newer “Philosophy of Time”:
- Time travels at a certain speed and direction on Earth possibly due to: (i) The earths gravity, speed and trajectory around the sun; (2) That we measure it and agree globally on this
2. Time travels at different speeds on different planets in the same way
3. Time travels more slowly in orbit around the Earth, such as in GPS satellites
4. Time travels slower on the surface of the sun due to its greater gravity, and probably even slower as you “mine” down deeper into it (if such a thing were possible)
5. Time travels decreasingly slowly as you approach the SMBH at the centre of the galaxy
6. Time stops on the event horizon
Question: What happens when you breach the EH?
Answer: Possibly it then unwinds in a backward manner as you approach the centre of the SMBH? At the centre of the SMBH all of time exists instantaneously?
====
Footnotes
From a series of articles entitled:
“Eye of Heaven — Lichfield Cathedral a Theory of Everything”
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines (Shakespeare Sonnet 18) …
