By Soumendra Nath Thakur
ORCiD: 0000-0003-1871-7803
09-09-2024
In human psychology, time is a conscious experience—a construct reflecting the sequence of existence and events. In cosmology and physical sciences, time is often defined as the indefinite, continuous progression of existence and events in a uniform and irreversible succession, extending from the past, through the present, and into the future. This progression is conceptualized as a fourth dimension that exists above the three spatial dimensions.
Time is fundamentally a measurement to quantify changes in material reality. The SI unit of time, the second, is defined by measuring the electronic transition frequency of caesium atoms. Time is also recognized as one of the seven fundamental physical quantities in both the International System of Units (SI) and the International System of Quantities.
In physics, time is commonly defined by its measurement—essentially, "what a clock reads."
This description suggests that time, in its conventional understanding across various scientific disciplines and human experience, is an abstract concept, not a real, tangible entity. While time provides a framework for understanding the succession of events, it does not have a direct physical existence as space does in three dimensions. Time is often viewed as a hyper-dimensional abstraction—imperceptible and unreachable beyond the three-dimensional spatial realm.
However, relativity challenges this interpretation by treating time as a real entity—integrated with space to form a four-dimensional space-time continuum where time becomes subject to physical modifications, such as time dilation. This relativistic concept implies that time is not only concrete but also malleable under the influence of velocity and gravity, leading to discrepancies with other scientific interpretations that consider time an abstract or imaginary concept.
One of the main contentions is that time dilation, a cornerstone of relativity, effectively violates the standardization of time by presenting it as something dilatable, thereby questioning the uniformity and constancy of time itself. The traditional time scale based on a 360-degree cycle—representing a consistent progression—is disrupted by the relativistic notion of time dilation, which converts abstract time into something perceived as "real" or "natural." This treatment of time also seems to ignore the conscious human experience, which understands time as a subjective, psychological construct.
Furthermore, if time is not directly reachable—being an abstract hyper-dimensional concept—what then is the "time" that a clock measures? Clocks are designed to provide a standardized approximation of cosmic time through calibrated frequency counts, such as the electronic transitions of caesium atoms. However, the physical manifestation of time in clocks is inherently subject to distortions, primarily due to gravitational effects. Gravity affects mass and energy, altering the oscillation rates of clocks and resulting in time distortions. Consequently, even the most accurate atomic clocks require periodic adjustments to compensate for these external influences.
The discrepancy between the "real time" measured by clocks and the "conceptual time" of cosmic progression raises further questions about the nature of time. Clocks, intended to represent a uniform progression of time, must contend with gravitational influences that disrupt this uniformity, necessitating ongoing corrections. This challenges the idea that time is a tangible, concrete entity and supports the view that it remains fundamentally an abstract concept—a conceptual framework through which we interpret the order of existence and events.
In short, while relativistic physics proposes that time is a real entity susceptible to physical modifications like time dilation, this interpretation remains contentious when viewed through the lens of broader scientific understanding. Time appears more consistent with an abstract or imaginary concept, a near-approximate representation that is susceptible to external influences, yet ultimately remains beyond the realm of tangible existence.
