Difference between revisions of "Past"
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==Etymology== | ==Etymology== | ||
| − | [ | + | [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English], from past participle of passen to pass |
| − | *Date: [ | + | *Date: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_Century 14th century] |
==Definitions== | ==Definitions== | ||
*1 a : ago <12 years past> b : just gone or elapsed <for the past few months> | *1 a : ago <12 years past> b : just gone or elapsed <for the past few months> | ||
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*3 : of, relating to, or constituting a verb tense that is [[expressive]] of elapsed [[time]] and that in English is usually formed by internal vowel [[change]] (as in sang) or by the addition of a suffix (as in laughed) | *3 : of, relating to, or constituting a verb tense that is [[expressive]] of elapsed [[time]] and that in English is usually formed by internal vowel [[change]] (as in sang) or by the addition of a suffix (as in laughed) | ||
*4 : having served as a specified officer in an organization <past president> | *4 : having served as a specified officer in an organization <past president> | ||
| + | <center>For lessons on the [[topic]] of the '''''Past''''', follow '''''[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Past this link]'''''.</center> | ||
==Description== | ==Description== | ||
The '''past''' is contrasted with the [[present]]. It is also regarded as the conglomerate of [[events]] that happened in a certain point in [[time]], within the [[Space-time]] [[continuum]]. The aforementioned conception is closely related to [[Albert Einstein]]'s [[theory]] of [[relativity]]. The past is the object of [[study]] in such fields as [[history]], [[archaeology]], archaeoastronomy, chronology, [[geology]], (historical geology), historical [[linguistics]], [[law]], paleontology, paleobotany, paleoethnobotany, palaeogeography, paleoclimatology, and [[cosmology]]. | The '''past''' is contrasted with the [[present]]. It is also regarded as the conglomerate of [[events]] that happened in a certain point in [[time]], within the [[Space-time]] [[continuum]]. The aforementioned conception is closely related to [[Albert Einstein]]'s [[theory]] of [[relativity]]. The past is the object of [[study]] in such fields as [[history]], [[archaeology]], archaeoastronomy, chronology, [[geology]], (historical geology), historical [[linguistics]], [[law]], paleontology, paleobotany, paleoethnobotany, palaeogeography, paleoclimatology, and [[cosmology]]. | ||
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[[Humans]] have recorded the past since ancient times, and to some extent, one of the defining characteristics of [[human being]]s is that they are able to record the past, recall it, [[remember]] it and confront it with the current [[state]] of affairs, thus enabling them to plan accordingly for the [[future]], and to theorise about it as well. | [[Humans]] have recorded the past since ancient times, and to some extent, one of the defining characteristics of [[human being]]s is that they are able to record the past, recall it, [[remember]] it and confront it with the current [[state]] of affairs, thus enabling them to plan accordingly for the [[future]], and to theorise about it as well. | ||
==Philosophy and science== | ==Philosophy and science== | ||
| − | According to [ | + | According to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presentism_(philosophy_of_time) presentism], the past does not strictly exist; however, the [[methods]] of all [[The Sciences|sciences]] study the world's past, through the [[process]] of evaluating [[evidence]]. Presentism is compatible with Galilean relativity, in which time is independent of space but is probably incompatible with Lorentzian/Einsteinian relativity in conjunction with certain other philosophical theses which many find uncontroversial. |
| − | In [ | + | In [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_physics classical physics] the past is just a half of the [[timeline]]. In [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_relativity special relativity] the past is considered as [[absolute]] past or the past cone. In [[Earth]]'s scale the [[difference]] between "classical" and "relativist" past is less than 0.05 s, so it can be neglected in most cases. |
| − | In the modern [[theory]] of [[relativity]], the conceptual [[observer]] is at a geometric point in both [[space and time]] at the apex of the 'light cone' which observes [[events]] laid out in time as well as space. Different observers can disagree on whether two events at different locations occurred simultaneously depending if the observers are in relative [[motion]] (see [ | + | In the modern [[theory]] of [[relativity]], the conceptual [[observer]] is at a geometric point in both [[space and time]] at the apex of the 'light cone' which observes [[events]] laid out in time as well as space. Different observers can disagree on whether two events at different locations occurred simultaneously depending if the observers are in relative [[motion]] (see [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relativity_of_simultaneity relativity] of [[simultaneity]]). This theory depends upon the idea of time as an extended [[thing]] and has been confirmed by [[experiment]] and has given rise to a philosophical viewpoint known as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_dimensionalism four dimensionalism]. However, although the [[contents]] of an observation are time-extended, the conceptual observer, being a geometric point at the [[origin]] of the light cone, is not extended in time or space. This [[analysis]] contains a [[paradox]] in which the conceptual observer contains nothing, even though any real observer would need to be the extended contents of an observation to exist. This paradox is partially resolved in [[Relativity]] theory by defining a '[[frame of reference]]' to [[encompass]] the measuring instruments used by an observer. This reduces the time separation between instruments to a set of constant intervals.[2] |
==References== | ==References== | ||
# Hegeler, E. C., & Carus, P. (1890). The Monist. La Salle, Ill. [etc.]: Published by Open Court for the Hegeler Institute. page 443. | # Hegeler, E. C., & Carus, P. (1890). The Monist. La Salle, Ill. [etc.]: Published by Open Court for the Hegeler Institute. page 443. | ||
Latest revision as of 02:37, 13 December 2020
Etymology
Middle English, from past participle of passen to pass
- Date: 14th century
Definitions
- 1 a : ago <12 years past> b : just gone or elapsed <for the past few months>
- 2 : having existed or taken place in a period before the present : bygone
- 3 : of, relating to, or constituting a verb tense that is expressive of elapsed time and that in English is usually formed by internal vowel change (as in sang) or by the addition of a suffix (as in laughed)
- 4 : having served as a specified officer in an organization <past president>
Description
The past is contrasted with the present. It is also regarded as the conglomerate of events that happened in a certain point in time, within the Space-time continuum. The aforementioned conception is closely related to Albert Einstein's theory of relativity. The past is the object of study in such fields as history, archaeology, archaeoastronomy, chronology, geology, (historical geology), historical linguistics, law, paleontology, paleobotany, paleoethnobotany, palaeogeography, paleoclimatology, and cosmology.
Humans have recorded the past since ancient times, and to some extent, one of the defining characteristics of human beings is that they are able to record the past, recall it, remember it and confront it with the current state of affairs, thus enabling them to plan accordingly for the future, and to theorise about it as well.
Philosophy and science
According to presentism, the past does not strictly exist; however, the methods of all sciences study the world's past, through the process of evaluating evidence. Presentism is compatible with Galilean relativity, in which time is independent of space but is probably incompatible with Lorentzian/Einsteinian relativity in conjunction with certain other philosophical theses which many find uncontroversial.
In classical physics the past is just a half of the timeline. In special relativity the past is considered as absolute past or the past cone. In Earth's scale the difference between "classical" and "relativist" past is less than 0.05 s, so it can be neglected in most cases.
In the modern theory of relativity, the conceptual observer is at a geometric point in both space and time at the apex of the 'light cone' which observes events laid out in time as well as space. Different observers can disagree on whether two events at different locations occurred simultaneously depending if the observers are in relative motion (see relativity of simultaneity). This theory depends upon the idea of time as an extended thing and has been confirmed by experiment and has given rise to a philosophical viewpoint known as four dimensionalism. However, although the contents of an observation are time-extended, the conceptual observer, being a geometric point at the origin of the light cone, is not extended in time or space. This analysis contains a paradox in which the conceptual observer contains nothing, even though any real observer would need to be the extended contents of an observation to exist. This paradox is partially resolved in Relativity theory by defining a 'frame of reference' to encompass the measuring instruments used by an observer. This reduces the time separation between instruments to a set of constant intervals.[2]
References
- Hegeler, E. C., & Carus, P. (1890). The Monist. La Salle, Ill. [etc.]: Published by Open Court for the Hegeler Institute. page 443.
- Petkov 2005
