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Time is a dimension, but not like space

(bigthink.com)
171 points belter | 1 comments | 17 Oct 24 15:29 UTC | HN request time: 0.205s | source
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axilmar ◴[21 Oct 24 08:49 UTC] No.41902014[source]▶
Of course the math check out, they are correct, but in my opinion, time is not a dimension, it's the 'refresh rate' of matter.

To me, there are only 3 dimensions, that of space.

That does not mean the relativity math is useless. On the contrary, what they describe is real and we can experimentally verify it.

But that does not mean we can 'move' into time, as we 'move' into space. That's why time is not a dimension.

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1. pessimizer ◴[21 Oct 24 11:03 UTC] No.41902838[source]▶
> time is not a dimension, it's the 'refresh rate' of matter.

Exactly. Time is just a very useful fudge to describe change. If nothing changes, there's been no time. If something changes, there has been time.

A dimension is just a useful number that you can operate on. You can have a physics where the fourth dimension is how blue something is, and the fifth dimension is how good Mary thinks it tastes.