Is Spacetime a Reality

[ChristineM]

The equations of quantum mechanics, quantum field theory etc are generally time dependent to the best of my knowledge. See:

Schrödinger equation - Wikipedia

I think we might be caught up in what 'real' means here. Time is a measurable quantity in every theory or model I've ever seen but whether that makes it 'real' I'm not too sure. I don't know if it's a feature of the observer-independent universe, but I don't know what is. I am sure that to talk of change of any kind we need to talk of time and I guess that makes it real enough for me.

Also, physics is bonkers.

You are correct, i am talking physically real.

Nah, physics is cool, it sometimes makes my head hurt but i always learn something from it.

 

[Thief]

Is distance is an illusion? After all, the means of measure are man-made.

Time is just the same.

the space between the objects .....is real

but the measure is whatever you need to be practical

a mile.....on the galactic scale is a bit cumbersome
par sec is a term I don't hear often

I do....quite often....
consider the distance

let's say.....ALL things obey the Constant
as a speed limit

then it's no wonder we don't hear from God very often

 

[exchemist]

the space between the objects .....is real

but the measure is whatever you need to be practical

a mile.....on the galactic scale is a bit cumbersome
par sec is a term I don't hear often

I do....quite often....
consider the distance

let's say.....ALL things obey the Constant
as a speed limit

then it's no wonder we don't hear from God very often

The interval between events is just as real.

 

[Thief]

The interval between events is just as real.

ok....

and for the most part we humans are using the same measures
days, months, years

but the Gregorian calendar was an invention....with a correction needed every four years
the Aztec version greatly different

and on the scale of galactic events.....omg

and on the small scale of micro seconds
it's quite difficult to relate to

 

[exchemist]

ok....

and for the most part we humans are using the same measures
days, months, years

but the Gregorian calendar was an invention....with a correction needed every four years
the Aztec version greatly different

and on the scale of galactic events.....omg

and on the small scale of micro seconds
it's quite difficult to relate to

Yes, but this is just a matter of scales. (The reason why we use exponential notation so much in science is to avoid being freaked out in this way). None of this has any bearing on whether or not time is an illusion.

What Einstein was getting at, if I recall, is that while events are specified by 4 coordinates: 3 of space and one of time, in relativity the ideas of absolute past, present and future are an illusion, just as absolute distance is an illusion.

 

[Thief]

Yes, but this is just a matter of scales. (The reason why we use exponential notation so much in science is to avoid being freaked out in this way). None of this has any bearing on whether or not time is an illusion.

What Einstein was getting at, if I recall, is that while events are specified by 4 coordinates: 3 of space and one of time, in relativity the ideas of absolute past, present and future are an illusion, just as absolute distance is an illusion.

I'm with you

I also note.....there is no such thing as a straight line

but not too sure I would blend the 'tense' of time as described