The Physics of Time: Block Universe or Flow of Time?

Revista Portuguesa de Filosofia 61 (1):61 - 72 (2005)
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Abstract

It has been advocated that Einstein's theory of special relativity implies a view of the universe as a space-time-block (block universe). Accordingly the flow of time is only a subjective and unreal phenomenon. An interpretation of the second law of thermodynamics leads to a completely different view, stating that the flow of time and the difference between past and present are fundamental phenomena. This article argues that this view has priority over the view of the block universe. /// Segundo o autor do artigo, há investigadores que defendem a ideia de que a teoria da relatividade especial de Einstein implica uma visão do universo como um bloco espácio-temporal (universo bloco). Nesse sentido, o fluxo do tempo seria apenas um fenómeno subjectivo e irreal. Ora uma interpretação da segunda lei da termodinâmica conduz a uma visão completamente diferente, afirmando que o fluxo do tempo e a diferença entre passado e presente constituem fenómenos fundamentais. Assim, o presente artigo defende que esta visão tem prioridade sobre a visão do universo como bloco.

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